Month: January 2022

Patriot League Well Represented With Four Players On The International Turf

At any given time there were three Patriot League players on the turf during the 3-1 win over Canada this afternoon at Prince of Wales CC in Santiago Chile. The US Captain is Amanda Magadan Lafayette ’17. Audrey Sawers Lafayette ’21 saw significant minutes on the Canadian side. and Ally Hammel from Boston University was there at the crucial center back position. Marcia LaPlant was the reserve Canadian goalie who played at Holy Cross, saw no action.

Amanda scored the final goal for the Red White and Blue in the 59th minute sealing an impressive victory for the young 15th ranked USA squad against the 13th ranked Canadian team. In an interview after the game, she remarked on the game’s intensity and how they would be reviewing film to prepare for their next game on Sunday.

The US had recently played several test matches with the Canadians in California with little result, but certainly used that experience today to play what may have been the best game for this  young team to date, and a clear achievement for the new US Coach Anthony Farry.

Playing  scoreless and cornerless for the first 29 minutes and 52 seconds the defensive and offensive intensity was there. The US did have more shots in the first half, with Canada getting off the first shot of the game in sixth minute, which was turned away by goalkeeper Kelsey Bing. The US had the first corner of the game, but left the turf tied with Canada 0-0.

In the fourth quarter things started to liven up. Whereas the Canadians had only one green card in the first half, in the fourth quarter they began to rack up multiple penalty box minutes in 37th and 48th minutes with green cards and yellow cards in the 55th and 59th minutes. Meanwhile the US had only one yellow in the 45th minute.

The US was down a player in the fourth quarter which gave the Canadians the chance to score the first goal of the game in the 48th minute. But the US was to answer one minute later as Karlie Kisha found the rebound during a penalty corner to tie the score again. The final nine  minutes was a stretch of frenetic activity, as Ashley Sessa beat three defenders and put a backhand into the corner. It appeared the Canadians may have earned a penalty corner in the 58th minute which was reversed on a review.

Magadan put the game away in the 59th minute when the initial shot on a penalty corner was rebuffed, and she drove the ball to the goal and scored. In her interview, after the game she described the action as “gritty.”

Next action will be Sunday.