The game was like several others this season, played between the 40’s. The Leopards struck first as the result of the penalty stroke by Felicitas Hannes. The action leading to a stroke was started by Lafayette’s energizer Leneke Spanns who sprinted down the left side of the field and then the center, sprinting past potential defenders. She spotted Mackensie Hall ahead of all of the Stags. Leneke delivered the ball to Hall, who made a bee line for the circle only to be stripped from behind by an opposing player.
Quite rightly, a stroke was called and Felcitas was called in to do her thing, ( she had also delivered on a penalty stroke in the Bryant game). The stroke was nailed, and the Leopards were off to a 1-0 lead. The Fairfield sideline, not happy with the call, also got a green card for their vociferousness.
The lead was to last 5 minutes until Fairfield found the back of the net on a penalty corner with 90 seconds left in the first half. The Leopards were working off a green card, delivered to Lineke Spanns 30 seconds earlier. In addition, one of the Leopards left the cage early giving Stags a second shot with one less defender in the cage.
To make matters worse Josephine van Wijk recived a yellow with 13 seconds left in the half which carried into the second half. The winning goal was scored 4 minutes into the second half off a stolen pass. That was the last score of the game for either team!!
The Leopards will now leap into its “second” phase of the regular season with their Patriot League opponents. The four teams with the best record will go to the League tournament and the winner of the tournament goes to the NCAA national tournament. American University at Rappolt Field on Saturday is the first up. American is 3-3 with its loses from some quality opponents. The rest of the League is having a season much like Lafayette’s. ‘
Lafayette needs to find it’s offense to turn some of those one goal losses into wins and this could still be a successful campaign!!!! We shall see. Meanwhile I have to be impressed with Spanns who leaves it all on the field. She is an amazing competitor and athlete. Many of our young players are just starting to find out where they are on the pitch. Hannah Findley, Laine Delmotte, Ariel Schumacher, Makensie’s Hall and Switzer, Alex Conway and Catina Rubel will be heard from. Along with with the upperclass teammates a good season can still be had. Go Pards!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 