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April Cornell was appointed the fifth head field hockey coach in history for Colgate in December of 2016. Although this was her first head coaching assignment she is not a neophyte to the coaching ranks. She is a 14 year coaching veteran having spent 11 seasons at Hofstra. She was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2010. Cornell also had a one year stint with New Hampshire.

Cornell played her field hockey at Connecticut. She was a four year letter winner and was a co-captain during her senior year. During her career at UConn, the Huskies were nationally ranked, and made four NCAA appearances and four Big East tournament appearances. She is a native of central New York.

Colgate was  4-13 in her initial season at the helm which includes a 2-3 overtime loss to Lafayette.  The Raiders only scored 17 goals to 47 against during the whole season. They took an average of 9.6 shots per game while giving up 18.6. They only had 71 penalty corners. Their shot percentage was slightly more than 10 pct.

Clearly they need stronger offensive production. They lost two of their top three scorer while Iona MacKillop, a Junior forward from Glasgow Scotland will return. Cornell has bolstered her ranks with 7 freshman, and returns 10 sophomores from a huge freshman class last year. There are five juniors back on the field and no seniors. This still a very young team.

The Leopards will make the trek to Hamilton New York and will play a noon game on Oct 6. By then, Colgate will have their legs and Hamilton has always been a tough place to play. Cornell has scheduled 10 home games in her 18 game schedule. Three of those games will be part of an early season round robin on August 24,26, ad 27th with Central Michigan, LIU Brooklyn, and Saint Louis. Their toughest games remain to be Albany, Lock Haven, Vermont and Rider, and their Patriot League Schedule.

The week before Lafayette comes to town, Holy Cross will be in Hamilton, as these meetings are MUST win games for all 3 participants.

 

I had a football coach in High School who used to tell us if everyone did what they were supposed to every play would be.a touchdown. As a fluid game, field hockey demands decisions on the run while executing difficult skills with an opponent intent on stopping you. While every play did not result in a goal there was a lot for the Leopard coaching staff to be pleased with. For most of the players, the timing was there, as last year’s freshmen now know where this year’s senior teammates will be on the field. The spring experience along with the additional trip to South Africa has already established connections not seen last year.

There was even some spark by first year players who saw action as well. Coaches never want to get too excited until the games count, but I am a fan and let’s say I am seeing some really good things out there. ( Not that my opinion counts all that much).

There were some minor injuries as a couple of players were held out of their ususal  minutes, but not a beat was lost. This year I will try to name “Difference Makers” in every game. Today my nod goes to Kristen Taylor who showed good aggressiveness when needed and offensive savy, setting up and scoring goals. Second Lisa Van der Geest showed leadership directing play on the field and standing out controlling the ball. Third Liza Welch who just gets the job done, and seems to be in right place at the right time. Fourth, Goalkeeper Sarah Park, who stood tall in the goal today and especially well in turning back shots in the 7 v 7 practice period. I saw many great plays and I probably could have named several more but there is space and time to consider!.

The Leopards opened scoring midway through the first half when Kristin Taylor delivered a perfect strike from the left side which was met by Grace Angelella for the tip in. Later in the period Audrey Sawers took the ball during a corner and found Ana Steps for the second goals. Monmouth, who had scored over 80 goals last years scored two goals, one of which in my opinion was hit from outside the circle and never touched a player. But this is preseason!!

In the second half the 2-2- tie was broken with nine minutes having run off the clock when Kristen  Taylor got a goal of her own off a pass by Jenn DeLongis. That was soon followed by the go ahead goal with Lisa Van der Geest delivering a tip in to Sam Di Maio. The regulation game ended in a 4-3 advantage by the Leopards. In the overtime 7 v 7 period the Leopards scored with no time left on a corner that went from  Angelella to Liza Welch.

There is a long way to go but this is not a bad way to start. Next up is a Drexel scrimmage  at home Saturday August 18 at 6 pm.

Bucknell ended their season on a high note in the Patriot League Tournament, defeating American University in the semi-final in a shoot out, only to lose in the championship game 2-1 to Boston. The Head Coach, Jeremey Cook has been a regular visitor to the PL championship during his 10 year career at Bucknell. In 10 seasons he has been there 10 times with his Bison Team. The 2014 team was undefeated and hosted the Patriot League championship.  Cook’s overall record is  95-95. That record qualifies him in 2018 as having the second most wins in program history. He has extensive playing and coaching experience internationally.

Stephanie Dressler graduated last year but the Bison return their top scorers

Last year Bucknell scored 41 goals against 44 scored by their opponents. Their shot percentage was 18.4%, They had 135 penalty corners agains 109 against them. They lost to graduation, Emilly Finn, who was their fine goal keeper who had a 70 percent save percentage.

What is remarkable about this team is that they return their 3 leading scorers Brittany Willwerth ( 20 pts 7 goals 30 pct shot percentage), Lexi Quick (18 points, 5 goals, 15 pct short percentage) and M.C. Evans (14 pts, 4 goals, 25 pct shot percentage). In the goal, will be Junior Oliva Harris. Harris was picked for the US Indoor Team and was one of three players picked for the Young Women’s National Championship at Spook Nook. The other two are sophomores Sarah Dimock and Kaelyn Long.

In addition, Bucknell will be playing on new turf which according to one Bison in the program, “will make practicing corners possible.”

Their out of conference schedule looks quite manageble but sprinkled with JMU, Syracuse, and Penn State. Aside from the Patriot League schedule, common opponents include Cornell, Richmond, and Monmouth. The showdown with Lafayette occurs at 2 pm Oct 27, as the last game of the season. In a conversation with Jeremy this summer in Spooky Nook, he remarked these Lafayette games are always important.

This is another game against a well coached team on the rise and will decide a Patrtiot League Tournament berth. Given Bucknell’s last season success in 2017, this could be a VERY dangerous game!!

 

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Boston University’s hallmark has been consistency…consistently good. This will be Head Coach Sally Starr’s 38th season at the helm of the Terriers. She is following a year in which the Terriers were 14-8 and undefeated in the Patriot League. Starr ranks 11th all time in wins and currently is 5th among current coaches. A stable staff has also been a characteristic for Boston. Her two assistants have been with the program 19 and seven years respectively.

Last year they scored 62 goals against 35 for the opponents and they score on over 20 pct of their shots. What is more remarkable is that they had only 108 corners, but the defense has only allowed 69 corners. Boston won the Patriot League title last year for the third time in four years after a 6-0 run through the league. Bucknell was the only team to lose in the narrowest of margins 2-1 in the championship game and 1-0 in the regular season matchup. Lafayette fell to them 5-1 in Boston.

Preparation is their methodology as they learn even from their unsuccessful efforts. Before the Lafayette game Boston, lost to eventual national champion 8-1. In the NCAA second round game they lost 3-1.

This year they will field 4 freshman, 7 sophomores 1 Junior and 5 seniors. Returning are all league selections Seniors Kali Shumock, and Allie Doggett along with sophomore Ailsa Connolly. Conolly was their leading scorer with 22 points and eleven goals as she continues as part of the New Zealand pipeline that has been so important in their recruiting. They are deep at goal as two goalies shared time in the cage. Senior Kathleen Keeegan is back as is Millie Baker a sophomore. Baker had a league leading 83 pct save percentage.

Their out of conference schedule is daunting as usual, with UCONN, Penn State, Northwestern, Princeton, Harvard and Boston College on the schedule.

The Terriers will vist Lafayette at home on September 29th at noon. Lafayette will face Liberty at home 5 days earlier and Boston will face Colgate the previous week and Princeton the day after. The last meeting at Rappolt between the two team ended in a 1-0 shootout win for the Leopards. Probably the toughest league game on the schedule, who will be ready???? We need supporters in the stands for this one!!! Defense will be key!!

Yesterday was the beginning of the fall season as all assembled for the preseason ritual of medical exams, pictures, room organization and best of all a tailgate arranged by the parents. The emotions were varied, hopefulness, happiness ( at seeing old friends), trepidation from the new players and parents, confusion at new procedures, and sadness for separation from new parents and as their daughter advances on to new adventures.

In the end it was all positive and I am thrilled as ever this day has come. This is competing for a championship. They have the assets of experience, skill and strong leadership to get them to that goal. The future, as always, is filled with obstacles to overcome, but all of us believe this could be the year! I wear the championship ring from 2012, instead of my class ring, this could be the year I get to replace it!!

The first test of course will be a scrimmage with the fiesty Monmouth team on the 14th of August  at 2 pm at Monmouth (according to the Monmouth web site), to be quickly followed by a scrimmage with Drexel August 18 at 6pm ( according to the Drexel website). The Leopards will be playing the Drexel Dragons later on in the season. For those of you that may not have been to the Drexel Field  the Drexel fans are numerous and enthusiastic, so a great turnout for both games is encouraged.

 

Some notes about the team. There are two players who have twin siblings. One player has dual citizenship with the United States and Germany. One player lives in Ireland but is a US citizen, seven players participated in national championship competition this summer, several players had internships or research at the college this summer, and one was a tour guide for the admissions office.

I was delighted to see Sophie Carr walking without her knee brace as she continues her recovery from knee surgery. Everyone else looked fit and healthy, and ready to begin the arduous and what will seem endless preparation leading to that first scrimmages.

But that is how championships are built!!

BREAKING EXTRA NEWS

Hannah Millen number12 receives the first proposal ever at Rappolt Field. She was a star defender for us several years ago. She  receives a proposal ( yes knee and all ). After a “are you sure??” Agreement all around. Congratulations Hannah!!

The ballots were submitted  and the decision is in, the Leopard team will have in front of them a troika of captains from diverse nationalities. Senior defender Rachel Bird from North Vancouver B.C, senior midfielder Theresa Delahanty from Washington Crossing, Pa., and junior all-league defender Lisa van der Geest from Oegstgeest, Netherlands will lead the team. All three have demonstrated skills on the field and in the classroom and are obviously well respected by their teammates for their accomplishments and leadership skills.

The first one in alphabetical order, is Rachel Bird. Rachel is a graduate of the Oaks Leadership Academy and is in her second year as captain. The economics major boasted a 3.93 GPA in the last published account. It was the highest GPA on the team and one has only to engage her,  and immediately, her intelligence and education becomes obvious. Her athletic skills are considerable and my impression is that she has that “big” hit you look for in a defender who can clear the ball. Hampered in part by injury early last year, she saw action in eight games, contributing to three shutouts. The previous year she was a key contributor on a defense that posted a pair of shutouts and allowed one or fewer goals in six games.

In 2015 the Leopards came in third in the league  and getting into the Patriot League tournament. She had a defensive save against Penn.

She came to Lafayette with significant honors from High School including Captain, team MVP, Tournament MVP and was the Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year at West Vancouver. while making the North Shore First Team All Star List.

The second senior is Theresa Delahanty, an engineering major from Council Rock North High School. Theresa made the US Indoor Squad this past spring and was selected for the Under 21 national tournament at Spooky Nook, Pa. the training ground for the US National Team . “T” as she is known by her teammates has played in every game her entire Lafayette career. She is a fearless but smart player at midfield. She is quick to see openings and a path for the ball to get the circle. T is often near the circle and a playmaker.   Memorable goals include a goal in last season’s win against Temple.

She is a plus in the locker room, contributing to team morale and her many friends can attest to her good and generous nature. Winning comes naturally to her as a four year starter on her high school team. They reached the PIAA quarter finals in 2014. That year she was on the Courier Times Golden first team selection. She played for the Mystx field hockey club and  while in school, earned designation on the Distinguished Honor Roll from 2011-15. She also was selected to the National Honor Society  and the Science National Honor Society.

The third member of this captain’s Troika is junior Lisa van der Geest. Lisa comes to us from Oegstgeest, Netherlands and went to Rijnlands Lyceum. One of Lafayette’s excellent defenders she can be seen on both ends of the field. In 2017 she was an all league selection for the second straight year. She earned a well deserved PL Defensive Player of the Week on 10/16. She led the team with six assists and tied for third with 10 points.

‘She also started all 18 games in 2016. She was first in assists on the team, and second in points. Her five assists was the most by any freshman in the Patriot League. Her success here in the United States is a continuation of her sterling career in the Netherlands. She was part of a regional championship team  who placed second in the National School Championships. She played club hockey for Leidsche en Oegstgeester.

She is no slouch in the classroom with a 3.66 average and speaks multiple languages.

 

This is an excellent leadership group who will make this team a factor in the league and beyond. I would love to see the team and especially these three in the NCAA tournament!!!!

 

 

Playing in the U-23 division in the Canadian National Tournament for British Columbia, rising sophomore Audrey Sawers made an impact scoring once from the field in the second game against Alberta, and twice in the semi-final against Ontario -White on two penalty corners. She put her team in position to win by scoring in an overtime shoot out. Unfortunately, her’s was the only goal her team scored in the shootout, missing out on playing in the gold medal game. She became the sixth leading scorer for the three day tournament in Toronto. What was more remarkable, she was one the youngest players on the field at 18. Her team went on to earn the bronze medal in a later 6-0 win against Alberta.

Audrey will begin her sophomore year this fall at Lafayette as an economics major. She is an accomplished athlete having earned the title of Female Athlete of the Year two years running at her high school. She not only starred on her field hockey team but also played five years on her basketball and soccer team. Using her height she was also on her volleyball team for two years and ran track and field while  also an honor roll student.

This spring she had outstanding games against Virginia, Penn, Lehigh and Bucknell. During her freshman year she played in all 18 games and started in five, scoring an assist against Colgate and a goal against Temple.

No doubt she will be a key player near the goal at either midfield or forward for the 2018 season. The Leopards had 7 players this summer selected for national competitions. They will return to the home turf on August 7th with their first scrimmage against Monmouth on August 14th in preparation for the the first game at home against Fairfield on the 24th at 6:30 pm.

Addendum:

Found out today that Audrey was named to the all-11 all star squad for the Under 23 tournament. Here she is accepting congratulations. Well done Audrey can’t wait to have you back in Maroon and White in two weeks!!