Month: August 2024

Leopards Sprint To 2-1 Win Over Vermont

Mackensie Hall looks to intercept the ball

Getting the first win of the season is always well earned, and before a home crowd of 357 fans, the Leopards did not disappoint. It was more than a contest that demonstrated skill and athletic ability, but had elements of field hockey strategy as well.

The game opened with both side trying to establish physical dominance as the first 4 or five minutes moved from one side to the other. The Leopards deep bench was to come into play and at the 5 minute mark, fresh legs in the form of Alex Farrah, Mia Freeman, Maddie Evans, Kiley Gallagher entered the pitch. Vermont answered with substitutions of their own and produced the first shot of game that went wide of the pipes. It wasn’t until 11:31 into the game that Mackenzie Hall was to have Lafayette was break the ice with a shot that was wide of the goal.

Makenzie Switzer sprints upfield

The Leopards were to gain momentum when 30 seconds later Josephine van Wijk took her chance at the goal and ws turned away by the Vermont goal keeper Ila Gunner. As the quarter progressed Lafayette was to attack the goal more often with shots and an eventual corner at 12:12. Pressure on the GK continued with van Wijk finding opportunities to pressure the cage.

Kiley Gallagher dodges around the Vermont defender

At the beginning of the second quarter, Lafayette was to find the back of cage at 18:53 as Lea Good, with an assist by Laine Dellmotte were to open scoring for 2024. Leopards fans needed only to wait about six months as all American Lineke Spaans drove the right baseline beating the Vermont defense for an unassisted goal at 25:07. The Leopards were to retire from the first half with 2-0 lead with Vermont on their back heals.

Vermont was to answer by trying to negate the Leopards speed with a zone defense which resulted in a Vermont goal from Marie Dijkstra assisted by Meg Weyer at 49 seconds into the second half. The shot came on a reverse move that had a Lafayette defender shielding Raffi Fragomeni from seeing the ball.

Vermont had signaled they were not going down easy. One had to remember last year’s game with these same opponents, which ended up in a tie at the end of regulation and Vermont eventually winning it in overtime…..not this time.

Lineke Spaans shows her defensive skills

Lafayette redoubled efforts getting four penalty corners to one in the second half. Fragmeni was to was to turn away two shots during the same half. Vermont itself turned away three Leopard shots but couldn’t get by the Leopard defense. As the clock ticked off the last 2-3 minutes of the game Lafayette played an effective game of keep away with Spaans going to the Vermont corner repeatedly, denying Vermont and offensive chance to tie the game. With thirty seconds left, Vermont gave away a deliberate corner stopping the clock hoping for one last chance. Instead of taking the shot Spaans again went to corner ending the game with the 2-1 win.

Sunday will see the Blue Hens of Delaware in Easton. Although the Leopards have a hold on wins at home, Delaware has the edge overall in the series. The Patriot League had a mixed bag Friday night with American losing in overtime to VCU, Boston picked up a 3-0 win against Providence and Holy Cross winning dominantly against Stonehill. Bucknell lost a close one to Miami of Ohio. Colgate succumbed to Rider 5-1. Lehigh plays on Saturday at Monmouth followed by Wagner on Sunday.

Lafayette Field Hockey Prepares for Challenging Opening Week

Spanns powers past her opponent

Columbia had a record of 3-13 last year, but looks to improve in 2024. However, along the way last season, they had several good games. They beat a very good Monmouth team 2-1, Lafayette 3-2, only lost to Princeton 1-2, and New Hampshire 0-1 in two overtimes. However, today, in Easton, the Leopards owned the Lions. I really don’t like to transmit scores in pre-season games, but I will say this, it was the Leopard team I hope we will see mid-season.

Inda Ralph lines up a shot on an APC

I saw speed, stick skills, strength and strong corner execution and defense. Stella Malinowski had the kind of day that earned her Rookie of Year in the Patriot League, Even some of the first year players got into it with Olivia Krey getting her first collegiate goal on a feed from Leneke Spanns in the second half. Junior Gk Raffi Fragomeni looked ready for prime time!!

Launching an attack penalty corner

APC’S were as sharp as they were numerous and DPC’s were solid. Much of the game was in the Leopard offensive end and the Leopards were able to turn the attack into fast break opportunities. Lafayette will give opponents at lot to think about. Yes, there is the ever present threat with Lineke Spanns. but once they try to concentrate on her there will be another Leopard waiting to sprint up the field, deflecting the ball into the goal on a feed, or dodging single coverage, freeing the ball to set up an attack.

There is a challenging week ahead with the regular season starting on Friday against Vermont. After that on Sunday the always dangerous University of Delaware Blue Hens arrive to test our Leopards. Vermont was 8-10 last year with a 3-2 win in OT over Lafayette. Delaware has been a regular preseason opponent for years, but this year the Blue Hens will travel to meet the Leopards at home. Delaware has the edge in wins 19-11-2 although they have been 6-8 at Lafayette. The last regular season game was in 2017. Last year they were 8-9 with wins against ODU, American, and Penn. Lafayette will be their first regular season game.

We are ready…. GO PARDS

First Contact…A Work In Progress

After a week of hard work the 2024 Field Hockey Leopards had their first taste of intercollegiate competition. It was “first contact” for both the Leopards and the Stags of Fairfield University. Fairfield won their league title last year and Lafayette went right to the Championship game. This will be Fairfield’s coach, Jackie Kane’s last season. Her tenure goes all the way back to when Fairfield was in the Patriot League. So this may be a year of special incentives for her.

The Stags pretty much stayed in a zone defense most of the game as Lafayette tried to crack it without much success. This was Lafayette’s freshman GK’s debut and she held her own. Addison Kahn was very solid between the pipes most of the game, but did give up a goal on a DPC in the first 90 seconds of the match. Lafayette couldn’t find the back of the net until the last 90 seconds to tie it up. The seven on seven segment was well played with the Leopards executing a nice goal that in the regular season would ended the game.

Last year during the regular season the Leopards won in a close 3-2 match. Many newcomers saw some action during the match. My general impression is the team was not at its end of year best and it is how I remembered them. As the days go by these well skilled players will get used to the speed of the game and where their teammates are on the field.

The next test is at home with Columbia on Sunday at 12 pm. Lafayette lost to these same Lions last year and it could be a strong benchmark before the opener with Vermont later next week. It’ll be interesting to see the progress!!

THEY’RE BACK

It’s Saturday morning in early August and the Lafayette Leopards are back at work on Rappolt Field preparing for the 2024 Division one field hockey season. The legs are still fresh, the weather was perfect, and as the morning progressed it became obvious their machine like integration from last year renewed itself. This team saw itself go all the way to the championship game last year, and it was apparent this fast paced practice and intensity was showing the elements were still there to demonstrate play-off hockey.

The Maroon and White are returning 5 all league selections including all American Leneke Spanns. As the coaches put the team through its paces there was no doubt that the determination and skill were there…..and maybe more. Asst. Coaches Jop Beuger and Meghan Reese make sure no one was standing still, as continuous drills emphasized ball and body movement, while executing accurate passing and deflections at the goal.

New first year players absorbed information from their new teammates as well as from the coaches. Sweat was certainly visible, despite the relatively balmy weather as the drills delivered fitness as well as skill improvement.

Coach Stone was pleased with her veterans, but being the excellent coach she has demonstrated in the last 12 years, she looks forward to the development of others who will see more playing time and the first year’s players, as they become accustomed to the speed and skill of the college division one game. Stone has challenged her team with an interesting schedule which includes Syracuse, Penn State and Delaware. However, before the season begins there will be exhibition tune ups on August 20th and 25th at Fairfield and Columbia at home respectively. Both games will begin at 1 pm. The first regular season game will be with Vermont at home at 6pm under the lights!!

It’s not like the summer and spring have been idle for the Leopards. Much of the team has been practicing and playing internationally. Three Leopards participated in the Junior Pan Am games, Stella Malinowski, Laine Delmotte, and Katie Gibb. Raffi Fragomeni looked ready to defend the cage as she saw significant action last year!!

The Patriot League will be challenging with American defending their championship arriving at Rappolt Field on Sep 27 in the eighth game of the season. The first League game will be on the 20th of Sept in Worcester with Holy Cross at 4 pm. The away games with the Crusaders as well as the away games with Bucknell and Colgate always seem to be tough affairs.

There always will be THE GAME with Lehigh as they will try to avenge their one goal loss last year. This year the RIVALRY will be on home turf on Friday evening Oct 11 at 6 pm. Boston arrives on homecoming Oct 25 to avenge their loss to the Leopards in the semi final last. year. The last regular season game will be up north at Colgate on November 2nd.

Challenges abound but it looks like an exciting season for Leopard field hockey. I would not be surprised to see our heroines in the mix a for championship when its all over. The talent is there, the bodies are willing and the fans are hungry. GO PARDS!!