It is trite to say it was a “team effort,” but I can think of no better description of tonight’s 60 minutes of excellent hockey. This was a game that was won by the Leopards rather than to say it was Bucknell’s loss. From the opening push off the game was played at tempo worthy of Division One. Every player was engaged…every Coach was contributing their best….every fan…every parent and even the Junior Clinic players on the sideline were behind the Leopards. The crowd of over 450 included alumni who traveled from Europe to cheer on their former teammates. Parents put together tailgates worthy of Lafayette’s long field hockey traditions.
From the first quarter on, the game had all the look and intensity of a playoff game. The first goal came from an Alex Darrah overhead deflection of a Lineke Spaans chip shot at 8:28 on the clock. The Maroon and White continued their high tempo of play responding to Buckell’s equally intense efforts. At 10:46, slightly more that 2 minutes later, India Ralph with an assist from Katie Gibb planted a rocket behind the Bucknell keeper during a corner. It was at that point the Lafayette defense rose to the occasion.
Lafayette goal keeper, Raffi Fragomeni had her best game of the year, turning away over 80 percent of the shots delivered by the Bisons. Lafayette had 7 shots to Bucknell’s 6 during the half. Leopard defenders were kept busy, especially defending Bucknell’s six corners.
Both teams came out determined in the second half and for a time it looked like Bucknell was getting the better of time in the Lafayette side of the field. The third quarter saw Bucknell get a 2-0 advantage in corners. It was then that the Leopard’s defense and bench dug deep. Counter attacks by Josephine van Wyk, defense by Makenzie Switzer, Stella Malinowski, Katie Gibb, and Lena Thedrian kept Bucknell at Bay only to yield to a corner shot by Bucknell’s Kira Leclerq on a corner at 38:44. It was an excellent high flick, top shelf.
But this night was to be for the Leopards and their fans, as we were to see Lafayette out shoot Bucknell 5-1 in fourth quarter. To no small advantage the home team also out cornered the visitors 6-1. With four minutes left on the clock the Bucknell Bison decided to pull their goalkeeper but still couldn’t manage to tie up the game.
The tension did not subside until the last several clicks of the clock leading the Leopards to a 2-1 win and 1-0 in League play. Remarkably, the crowd was reinforced by students who cheered in a continuous roar for 60 minutes. Noticed was at least 4 former players who made the trip…Sam DiMaio, Alex Talkow, Felicitas Hannes, and Lisa van der Geest.
My only regret was there was not enough space or time to recognize all individual team members. This was a total team win !
The Leopards will move on to another home game with Fairfield on Sunday. Meanwhile I will try to decompress!!!
Go Pards!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 