Lafayette Comes From Behind Twice To Win In Overtime 3-2 On Thedrian Goal
In an afternoon where the Leopards slowly gained possession time and in the end dominated statistically, Lafayette walked away with a 3-2 win over Boston University. At 64:09 the Leopards were executing a offensive penalty corner which was blocked by Boston. The ricochet ended on the stick of Josephine van Wijk who saw first year player Lena Thedrian on the far post who took the “rock” and delivered the goal for the win. It was Lena’s first goal of the season and career. The team erupted in happiness and swarmed the Lafayette defender.
Later in an interview she viewed the moment as the happiest in her life!. She later hoped her parents were watching in Germany!!
But the final goal was not the only heroics of the afternoon. The Terriers were winning 2-1 with less than one minute left in regulation when first year Lea Good took a ball delivered by Lineke Spaans to the back of the goal to tie the game and put the team into the overtime situation.
BU started the game with an early goal by Thalia Stevenssens at 3:11 giving them a 1-0 lead which held up though the end of the first half. After halftime super player Lineke Spaans delivered the tying goal at 31:02 with assists from Mackensie Switzer and India Raph. Nine minutes later BU again moved ahead with a goal of their own. In the fourth quarter, the Leopards redoubled efforts culminating in Good’s goal with less than a minute remaining.
Spaans was clearly the catalyst all game long advancing the ball, challenging defences and getting off 6 shots, scoring one goal and assisting on another. Josephine van Wijk was her usual self, placing herself in a position to be a threat culminating in her assist to Thedrian for the win!!
As I mentioned Lafayette dominated the stats getting off 20 shots agains 4 by Boston. They managed to hold BU to 0 shots in the second and fourth quarter. Boston did get off a shot in overtime saved by a spectacularly by Emma Garvey. Lafayette had 8 shots alone in the fourth quarter and four in the overtime.
The Leopards had 10 penalty corners to only one by BU.
Lafayette will meet American on Saturday for the championship and an NCCA bid! American also won their game against Bucknell 3-2 having scored all three goals in the first period. Bucknell came back and had two penalty corner attempts with no time left and failed to connect!!
American beat Lafayette 3-1 early in the season after the Leopards scored first!! The action begins at 1 pm on ESPN plus.
GO PARDS!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 