Feline Reuskin closes in on Boston playerKatie Gibb executes DPC
In a game that Boston had hoped to advance their bid for the Patriot League Tournament, Katie Gibb scored Lafayette’s winning goal with six minutes and forty six seconds into the third quarter. It was Gibb’s third goal of the season and second game winning goal in a row.
It was a contest dominated by defense, but had all the intensity of post season skills. Boston never gave up and even had 4 shots in the third quarter but never found the back of the cage. Although Lafayette did not have a shot in the fourth quarter they did turn away multiple attacks by the Terriers. With minutes left the Terriers did pull their goal keeper and the Lafayette defense stood tall and turned them away several times.
Although partly cloudy throughout the game the atmosphere turned chilly as the sun sank in the western sky. It did not deter the play on the field as Lafayette used 17 players in the game and Boston tried inserting fresh legs on their side with 20 players.The field for the Tournament did clarify as Bucknell emerged as the third qualifier and the likely opponent for Lafayette. Boston could still emerge as the fourth qualifier and the likely opponent for American, the host.
There were three video reviews during the game highlighting the deficit of video review for the Patriot League championship games because American does not have it. Along with Lehigh they remain the only sites without video review.
Katie Gibb scores winning goal with one minute left in the game
With several players nursing injuries the depth of Lafayette carried the day in a 3-2 thriller ending in a strike by Katie Gibb with less than one minute left in the game. Katie put in 60 minutes and was very involved in the offense all game. However, it was Junior Maddie Evens who got off the first shot of the game at 4:09. which was stopped by the Raider’s Claire van Kempen who had 8 saves during the day. The second shot came from Lea Good 2 1/2 minutes later again to be stopped by the Raider GK.
Lea Good put the Leopards in the lead in the first half
It was early in the second quarter when Lea was to find the back of the cage scoring a goal with the help of Linda Nova at 21:36. That goal was to stand up through the first half with the Leopards in the lead 1-0. with a 7-0 lead in shots and 1 penalty corner to none.
Two and one half minutes into the third quarter Colgate came alive as they got off three shots, two of which found the back of the net. The first came as it deflected off the glove of Fragomeni, the Lafayette goal keeper. Three minutes later the Crusader attack struck again to make it 2-1 on a fast break and the Leopards found themselves behind for the first time in the game.
The Leopards were to have success challenging Colgate one on one. It was one such drive up the middle of the field by Josephine van Wijk that set up the Leopards for a scrambling goal to tie the game. With 40 seconds left in the third quarter van Wijk charged towards the goal with Lena Thedrian and Sophomore Laila Pasic putting themselves in position. Thedrian got hold of the ball as Colgate tried to organize eventually passing to Pasic who tipped it in for the tying score.
The intensity increased throughout the final quarter as both teams had opportunities. Colgate and Lafayette had 2 penalty corners. With one minute and three seconds left and facing overtime Lafayette earned their last penalty corner of the game. Again, with a scramble in front of the cage Rosalie van Gool found Katie Gibb who delivered the winning goal with 50 seconds left on the the clock.
Van Wijk used her considerable skills to wind down the clock and seal the 3-2 win.
By virtue of the win the Leopards have now secured a place in the Championship tournament. Ironically, halfway through the game Lehigh lost to Holy Cross securing a spot even before Gibb’s final goal.
So there is still a mathematical chance for either Holy Cross, Boston University, Bucknell and Lehigh to qualify. Lafayette will play Boston next Friday in their final regular season game on Friday in Boston.
American took a large step in securing home field by beating Bucknell. Lafayette would need American to lose its final two league games for Lafayette to host. It is a shame should American host the championship it will be played without video review. In the American v. Bucknell game there several times that video review would have been helpful. It’s time for the League to mandate video review for championship matches. American is NOT qualified to host an NCAA Tournament game without it, as is Lehigh!!
In the development of a team “personality,” at times it takes a single person to lead. Last night it was Lena Thedrian who stepped up with three goals in less the two minutes during a crucial third quarter. Until then Holy Cross was displaying heroics of their own in the person of their goalkeeper Mia McCloskey who had 9 saves in the first period. None was bigger than a stop of a penalty stroke attempt by Stella Malinowski.
Despite the Leopards dominance in shots 14-3 in the first half alone, it was the Crusaders who were to be in the lead 1-0 by the half time break. But it was Thedrian who was to break the Crusaders’s lead early in the third quarter. She could be seen all over the field making play after play but it was the “defender’s” drag flick that would propel the turnaround.
Before the crowd of 316 she was to step into an assist by Lea Good to even the score at 1-1. One minute later on a penalty corner Thedrian again delivered the go ahead goal at 38:34 with assist from Malinowski and Katie Gibb. If that wasn’t enough seconds later on another corner Thedrian delivered using the same combination making the score 3-1.
As it turned out those three scores would be needed as the Crusaders battled coming within one at 42:38 making the score 3-2. That score was to remain until the fourth quarter when the Leopards took charge with 3 addition goals made by Lea Good, Mia Freeman and a spectacular shot by Josephine van Wijk at 58:04.
In all, the Leopards out cornered the Crusader 10-3, out shot them 28-8 forcing the Crusader Gk to make 13 saves. The great thing about competitive sports it allows us to witness leadership in the making and Thedrian’s display was all that. She was described by the television play by play commentator as unsung…..no longer!!
Addendum
This gives the Leopards 3 wins in the conference and it has been the practice that 4 wins brings a spot in the conference playoffs. It looks like that will hold this year. Hosting will be very long shot. I still believe the League has a responsibility to mandate that video review be part of the conference tournament. Lehigh and American remain the only Patriot League schools without it. They could not host an NCAA tournament without it.
If you had told me that Lafayette would have 10 shots to American’s 6, 8 corners to American’s 4 I would not have been right in assuming that Lafayette would end up on the winning end of the final score. It was a matter of timing, as a fourth quarter effort came too late to be of any help.
American University is always a tough place to be the visitor ( for fans as well as competitors). The Eagles asserted themselves right from the beginning. In fact the Leopards did not get their first shot until the third period! American made use of 2 penalty corners in the second period to start their scoring. There were a lot of close calls in first three quarters that went to the benefit of the home team which helped momentum as well. In the last quarter the far side official placed himself closer to action which seemed to help in balancing out the. penalties.
American’s Augustino Roffo showed her skill all game long and was an ever present threat. The first goal of the game came on that close call corner and a second try. Leopard offense which had proved to be effective all season long, could not get in gear.
The Eagles got their third goal before the Leopards got started but until that third quarter the field seemed tilted in American’s favor. That third goal provided added insurance in any tie breaker down the road for home field in tie beaker scenarios.
Lena Thedrian was again all over the field and was rewarded with the late goal during a Leopard corner using her drag flick to get it to the net.
One more thought
American is now in the minority by not providing video referral. It is time for the League to follow the NCAA hosting rules by insisting a championship tournament cannot be played at a site without video referral. It is time!! Excuses are hollow! At this point it’s the equivalent of a basketball team using peach baskets instead of modern metal rims and nets. All over division one it is in use…come on Eagles!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 