It looks like both Lafayette and American head coaches were expecting an important game when they created this year’s schedule. With a Saturday game, American Head Coach Steve Jennings and Lafayette Head Coach Jennifer Stone have cleared the weekly calendar to concentrate on this important meeting. While only four teams out of the seven will make it to the playoffs it will be the regular season champion who will host. A win on Saturday will set up the victorious team nicely as both teams won their initial PL contest.
Both teams have played top 25 teams, American played and lost in close contests to Penn State and Liberty. Lafayette has lost to Ohio State and UMASS, while beating Fairfield last Sunday after winning a well contested game with Bucknell. American lost to Cornell after beating PL rival Colgate 2-1.
Lafayette will have to find their way around American GK Bryn Underwood. They have their share of stars in number 7 Boshoff and number 8 Winkler. Lafayette has its share of weapons with Leneke Spaans and Josephine van Wijk. This week the Leopards swept the weekly awards with Stella Malinowski getting player of the week and Rookie of the Week, India Ralph claimed the defensive award and GK Raffi Fragomeni was GK of the week.
American lost in the playoffs last year and certainly are looking to not only return to the playoffs but win and go on to the NCAA tournament. Lafayette lost going to playoffs last year in a tie breaker, and had to watch Lehigh win the League title.
It has not been lost on any of the participants, a win sets up the victor for the final sprint to the post season.
Go Pards
Lafayette College Field Hockey 