Five Leopards Score In 5-0 Statement Win
Josephine Van Wijk, Lineke Spaans, India Ralph, Alex Darrah, and Stella Malinowski combined to give the Leopards a 10-6 record while on the doorstep of the post season. The Leopards exploded for 22 shots while holding off Boston’s nationally recognized vaunted penalty corner offense resulting in another shutout for GK Raffi Fragomeni and the Lafayette defense.
The game was filled with pageantry as US Olympian Amanda Golini returned to the Lafayette pitch to be lauded by her former teammates, alumni, and fans. It was another nice crowd of 428 filling the stands who were treated to a dominating win demonstrating all the skill and promise I thought would emerge during this season.
The first quarter was a probing one as the Leopards looked for weaknesses in the Boston defense. It was a well planned strategy that finally resulted in the first goal 7 minutes into the second quarter goal by van Wijk assisted by Ralph, and Spaans during a penalty corner.
The one goal lead was to stand up through half time until Lineke Spaans was to finally explode after stealing the ball and landing a pull around shot against the Terrier goalkeeper.
The fourth period was to be decisive as the solid India Ralph took an assist from Josephine van Wijk to start on onslaught of a 3 goal fourth quarter. Within a period of four minutes the score would be 5-0 as Alec Darrah assisted by Mackenzie Hall and Stella Malinowski would put in a coup de grace to this dominating performance.
The Leopards will now move on to Maryand to play Towson on Sunday. The effort against the Terriers rewarded the Leopards with a 25th RPI record in the national division one record, and a performance worthy of a postseason nod!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 