Month: November 2024

Leopards Leave It All On The Field In 0-1 Effort Against Number 3 Ranked St Joes

Leneke Spaans leads as always

These end of season blogs are probably the most difficult to write. It’s usually written after a tournament loss. The hard part is only one team ends up happy in that circumstance. This year was different. This team ends their season as champions having a 14-7 season and defeating, in heroic fashion, a worthy opponent, American University. It should be noted there were 66 teams not playing yesterday and Lafayette had established itself as one of the top teams in the country.

St. Joseph was ranked number 3 in the country and averaged 4 goals a game. The only goal yesterday was scored with Lafayette short one field player due to a yellow card on India Ralph, with 11 minutes left in the game. Even in the closing minutes, the Leopards never gave in. With seconds left in the game, having pulled their excellent goalkeeper Raffi Fragomeni, who had a career effort, the Leopards were called on to defend a corner. Sophomore Lena Thedrian rose to the occasion making a save and holding the Hawks to their final margin of victory 1-0.

All season long the fabulous five seniors were the foundation of this season’s success and yesterday was no exception. Again and again they proved they heart, determination, and skill. Leneke Spaans, India Ralph, Laine Delmotte, Alex Darrah, and Mackenzie Hall were as much keys to Leopard’s success yesterday, as they were all season.

Something must be said about the courage and skill of Leneke Spaans. After going down with a knee injury last week, I thought there would be no way she would she be able to start in the NCAA game. Start she did, with the doctors permission, showing her speed at times, and getting close with a reverse chip shot to tie the game. She was not at full capabilities, but still a factor on the field. It was an honor to see her demonstrate her skills for four years. In my estimation, she is one of the best athletes, male or female ever to don a Lafayette uniform. If there was a way to have her go straight to the Hall of Fame I would urge it.

The Hawks will lose 11 seniors and graduate students, and Lafayette will rebuild finding replacements for our 5 fab seniors. I predict there will be another run next year, but this group should receive their championship rings with the pride that comes with accomplishment first.

Addendum:

There are those at the” power” schools who whine that the NCAA tournament should be filled with their like only. It’s in the character of the NCAA tournaments that gives entries from the smaller conferences a chance to shine. I recall Lehigh beating Duke, and Bucknell beating Kansas in the basketball tournament. For my football friends, yesterday’s game was the equivalent of us playing Texas to a 7-0 loss in Austin. Most of those whining are those that didn’t make it. WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY!!

The parents this year were amazing, providing support …..and tailgates worthy of their daughter’s skill on the field.

To our loyal alumni…this is one of the most successful athletic programs at Lafayette. Jen Stone and her staff who year after year produce results deserve your support!! This was an excellent effort by Jen and her staff the school should be rewarding them and the program with resources to enhance their success in the future.

To the Patriot League….IT”S TIME TO MANDATE VIDEO REPLAY. DO IT NOW..ONLY LEHIGH AND AMERICAN FAIL TO PROVIDE IT!!!

Lafayette Leopards Win Overtime Thriller in DC

Lafayette Soccer Makes The Trip to DC

It was an intense afternoon of hockey in which the umpires seemed to have difficulty keeping the play under control. In the end, the Leopard prevailed with a penultimate score in overtime by Lea Good assisted by Makenzie Switzer. The events leading up the win were every bit as dramatic.

From the get go it became obvious to the crowd of 623 that this would be a struggle of frantic defenses. Play was dominated by mid-field action with American at times trying to press, especially covering Lafayette’s co-captain and inspirational leader Leneke Spanns by triple teaming her all game long. One got the feeling it would be the success or failure of that effort which would lead to a championship for either team.

No one would have predicted the events of the fourth quarter. The 2nd and 3rd quarters would see the Leopards gathering six penalty strokes to the Eagle’s 2. With less than 10 minutes left in regulation time Eagle Agostina Ruffo was open and flicked a shot high into the goal scoring the first goal of the contest. Ruffo had scored two other game winning goals against the Leopards in the two previous games.

Anxiety reigned for the next 4 minutes until Leneke Spanns broke through her triple coverage and headed to the goal. As she penetrated the shooting circle a sloppy attempt at a tackle though Spann’s legs caused her tumble with a serious injury. Fans held their breath as she struggled to get up, eventually leaving the field only to briefly reenter the pitch with a courageous effort to return to the fray.

Intense moments ticked away as officials conferred only to eventually call a penalty stroke on the Eagles. Stella Malinoski stepped to the line and beat the Eagle GK Bryn Underwood on the lower left corner to tie the score with 5 1/2 minutes to go.

Those last five minutes played like the 55 minutes preceding, ending in a tie, and the teams now faced overtime. Executing a press would be more difficult with only six players on the field, but without Spanns’ presence on the field the Leopard’s faithful held their breath. As champions they would become, the Leopards gathered themselves together to await their opportunity. That came at 3:47 into the period during a corner. as Makenzie Switzer found Lea Good on the left side of the goal and would deliver the winning shot, a redirect, past Underwood for the win.

In the minutes that would follow I would reflect on the tempo and intensity of the last 64 minutes. The officials seemed to let the players play on through close action. The events leading to the stroke in retrospect seems to me to have been inevitable. The absence of video replay ( American is the only one of two teams in the PL who don’t have it) contributed to the close aggressive play that led to the game changing stroke.

Raffi Fragomeni had a career day in goal having 7 saves. Lena Thedrian was all over field playing what may have been a career day for her. All that is not to diminish this team effort.

It is time for the League to mandate video referral as the rest of the world has already done, never again should a championship game be without it. Do it NOW Patriot League.

The Leopards now await the outcome of the 10 pm Sunday announcement of their NCAA tournament pairing. Their RPI now puts them ranked 22nd nationally. NO matter what. these Champions can now hold that title forever. WELL DONE

Step One Accomplished..Leopards Move On To Championship Game

Lena Thedrian has one goal and a defensive save in 2-1 win

Thedrian and Van Wijk score in semi-final with Bucknell

It was certainly a team effort, as Coach Jennifer Stone used her depth to score a ticket to the Championship round of the Patriot League Championship Tournament. Josephine van Wijk opened Leopard scoring at 7:26 during one of its 3 penalty corners with assists from co-captains Lineke Spanns and India Ralph. The opening score came on the northern side of the field as the autumn sun was shinning in the defenders eye.

Van Wijk was busy on offense and defense

Within seconds of an outstanding defensive save, Lena Thedrian received assists from same two teammates, Spanns and Ralph during a corner at 6:30 into the second quarter. It was an important goal, and the last goal of the game for the Leopards as the Bucknell Bison’s Lily Neilson scored with seconds left in the half to close to within one.

The second half was dominated by fierce defense, and movement from both sides. It was a half worthy of the post season. The third period saw each side get 1 corner while Lafayette had a one shot advantage during the second half. Uncharacteristically, the Leopards had given up 6 corners in the second period.

Bucknell was required to make 5 saves while Lafayette goalkeeper Raffi Fragomeni made 3 during the entire contest. Seventeen Leopards saw action and all performed well in an intense contest that in the end became a game of defense and ball possession.

DPC stands tall in the circle

On the backs of the win the Leopards are now ranked 25 in National RPI ratings. American is ranked below that, as they took home a 1-0 win to get to the Championship round. The Eagles had 21 shots in the win. The Leopards will have to find a way past graduate student GK Bryn Underwood and I suspect will take Lafayette’s usual large shot advantage.

The game will start at 1:00 EST, as the Leopards will be looking for their first championship in 11 years and revenge for their recent one goal losses in the regular and. post season.

Championship Run Begins Thursday

American, Lafayette, Bucknell, and Boston vie for Championship on Thursday and Saturday

The four teams left standing will again meet in DC for a repeat of last years Patriot League Championship with a minor reshuffling of the deck. American will meet Boston at 11 am Thursday and Lafayette will meet Bucknell at 2 pm. American ended the regular season with an undefeated record, Lafayette came up second with the overtime loss to American as their only blemish, Buckell had two losses ( American and Lafayette), Boston dropped games to Lafayette, American and Bucknell.

Josephine avoids defenders

But it is the internal statistics that are most interesting. Lafayette has not be scored upon in any League game since their 1-0 overtime loss to American at the beginning of the League schedule. Lafayette and Bucknell lead in goals scored in League games with 17 each while American trails with 16 and Boston has 10.

Leneke Spaans explodes downfield

The five straight shutouts by Lafayette compare with Boston’s 12 goals against, Bucknell’s 8 goals against and American’s 3 goals against. Lafayette’s offense is highlight by its League leading 103 shots, to American’s 92, Bucknell’s 82 and Boston’s 70. Lafayette had 42 corners during the League games, Buckell had 40. American had 36 and Boston had 36.

DPC defense is a wall

Lafayette was strong in goal with a 95% save percentage, American followed with 86 %,Boston with 75% and Bucknell with 68 %.

So in summary. statistically the Leopards look pretty good. But the only statistic in end is the final score and the Leopards ( as well as the rest of League ) have a hard time getting past American and they are at home. There is not video replay at American’s home field which to my mind is an issue the League should address, any other field but American’s would have had video referral.

Mackenzie Hall holds off a Bucknell defender

Three of the coaches have ten plus years in the job while Bucknell’s coach has been there only several years but has proven to be a dangerous opponent, especially in important games.

There is always a surprise in these games as American lost to Lehigh several years ago during the pandemic games. Lafayette has a diversified group of talent which could be a problem for any opponent. Lafayette’s Thursday opponent, Bucknell has the very talented Lily Neilson which will challenge Lafayette’s defense. In any case, Lafayette must limit opponent penalty corners and circle penetrations. They must also finish with more regularity.

The prize is the trophy and the privilege of keep playing in the National Championship tournament!!