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Ok your first question I am sure is “what is a Pokkel.” Here’s what my research has discovered. Pokkel in Afrikaner ( a significant part of area where Stellenbosch University resides speaks Afrikaner) means chubby, and best I can discern it’s a bulldog. Stellenbosch   University, tonight’s opponent, is about one and one half hours from Capetown. It’s celebrating its centennial this year and has a student population of 31,639. Sixty three percent of its students are undergraduates with the opportunity to study in a variety of fields which to me look like its dominated by STEM majors. In that respect, as many of our field hockey players are STEM or Economics majors, there is a commonality.

By the way, their school color is Maroon which is another area of similarity. As part of its offering it sponsors 30 sports and has large athletic facilities adjacent to the school, including two astro-turf fields. It is a diverse institution 60 % white, 20 % Afrikan black, and the rest various other races and cultures. Classes are taught in Afrikan, English and other local dialects. The school has just instituted a language policy to insure that all native speaking students have access to an education.

The sports programs are tiered to accommodate those who are casual week end athletes, and those who are more interested in intense high level competition. This will be a challenging game for our Leopards.

The team spent the earlier part of the day learning to surf. I have no information on the temperature of the water but they are all wearing shirts so I can assume its not like swimming in the 90 degree Persian Gulf.

As of early this morning the mystery of the lost hockey sticks was still active, as I have learned that their uniforms were also lost as well. However, they were hoping to have everything recovered by the this evening’s game which makes sense, since the flight they arrived on yesterday was a daily flight. Anyway, here’s hoping the Leopards arrive sartorially resplendent in their maroon uniforms armed with their more familiar hockey sticks.

GO PARDS

addendum: 2-1 win in the books!!  No details yet. Thank you Maties for the contest and best of luck to you in the future!!

It may not be August and it may not be at Rappolt Field but the 2018 edition of Lafayette Field Hockey is in full swing. The Leopards arrived at Capetown airport after a 29 hour commute to begin their South African Tour. It is without a doubt an adventure that will have it’s benefits in team bonding, but it also has all the hallmarks of preparation for the 2018 campaign.

The team did not just hop on a plane unprepared for the trip but they had spirited practices for the past week that was described by some as vigorous as any preseason preparation. The Leopards will play 3 games and have practice sessions as well. The spring has  been fruitful as the team had several tournaments which saw great progress in individual skill but more importantly we began to see the team work as a unit. By the time fall arrives this team will know where they and their teammates are on the field. The games in South Africa will solidify what has already been learned, and can be put into practice against international competition.

But the next week will also be a time to bond as they experience new cultures and historical sights. After landing today they will go to Table Mountain on the cable car and they later have a clinic from one of the top club coaches.Tomorrow will be their first game and no doubt they will be anxious to shake off their jet lag and get down to business.

It’s smiles all around and they greet their fans at home via social media. Have a great time ladies we are all watching you albeit from thousands of miles away.

Addendum: I have heard the team’s sticks were left in London. Hopefully, they will be returned tomorrow in time for the game!! In the meantime they have borrowed sticks from a local club!!

It’s been over fifteen years since my wife and I first proposed building a proper field hockey field for the Lafayette College Field Hockey Team. Giving away money we found was not the easiest task, when at times it came in conflict with other perceived priorities. We had already given a six figure gift to fund the VAST program, a program devoted to melding STEM courses and the liberal arts.

When we first approached the college, the reaction from the highest level at the time was… why. “No one really goes to field hockey games,” was one retort. Another was ” We have other priorities.” Or there was the one, “No one wants an artificial turf field!” We persisted and in the interim, also endowed a chair in the neuroscience department.

Today, all that is left of that philanthropy is the field hockey field. The VAST program has disappeared and there has not been a professor appointed to the chair we endowed for the last six years. Today, the field hockey team has won 3 Patriot League Championships, has been ranked as high as seventh in Division One nationally, and regularly its players are feted with all region, all American and best female athletes at Lafayette. Despite the ignorant utterances of that same official, the games now attracts between 200 and 400 people a game.

One facet of the facility that has always bothered me was the bathroom conveniences. I was assured at the outset, that there would be facilities. Yes there was, a single unisex bathroom that is required to service a crowd of up to 400 with the same thing in mind at half time and during tailgates. I have complained about it to no avail, despite the fact that funding was available for construction of additional facilities. Several years ago, a group of us got together to demand a change, and low and behold green port-a-potties appeared.

I was still not satisfied, and arranged for funding for portable bathroom trailers. The powers that be, refused to authorize the expenditure even though the funding was arranged. I can recall standing alongside a senior athletic administration official while pointing out the long lines outside the single toilet as he quipped, “maybe we could charge for use of the toilets.”

Three weeks ago my wife and I were delighted to meet with Sherryta Freeman the new athletic director at Lafayette. My ask was to allow for a new bathroom trailer in the upcoming field hockey season. Happily she agreed when I said I could raise the money, while Josh Azer Executive Director of the Maroon Club, listened and took notes. I have since talked with the athletic facilities manager and he is appraised and working to make it happen to be there before the first home game on Sept 7. With our guarantee and support, we will join the rest of the Patriot League with reasonable facilities. Embarrassed no more!!!

This whole saga may seem absurd, but illustrates the cement bureaucracies can get stuck into. Years ago we decided to concentrate our philanthropy to our living years to see its results. It has been  satisfying to see our wonderful team participate at high level division one hockey at Rappolt Field. We were disappointed to see the two other academic programs  we endowed of equal cost, fade away within 10 years of their inception.

I think Ms. Freeman will be a positive for the college and its students. This may be a small gesture, but based on our conversation three weeks ago and my perception of progress, we are encouraged.

Leopard One pulled into the parking lot at the Radnor Hotel along with some private cars  carrying the senior staff of the Lafayette athletic department. Most importantly it was Sherryta Freeman’s debut with a large group of alumni and some parents of student athletes as the new Lafayette Athletic Director. The format was a panel discussion from Jennifer Stone, Head Field Hockey Coach, Kia Damon Head Women’s Basketball Coach, and John Garret Head Football Coach and Ms Freeman.

Freeman stressed to the attentive audience that winning was the first word in the athletic department’s mission. However, they would do it the right way with continuing high graduation rates and with student’s of high character. Coach Garret stressed his 17 year NFL experience, citing that height,weight and speed were not the sole criteria for having a winning team or even being a great professional player. He wants student athletes who love the game and will give 100 pct all the time.

Kia Damon reviewed her challenges in turning the program around, but she wanted her athletes to have a memorable experience. That could be winning but it is also that practices should not be just hard work. She explained how at times she played music at practice to get her team to have fun at practice. She wants a team of leaders not only while at Lafayette but in the future!!

Jennifer Stone the Head Field Hockey Coach pointed out the work and obligations that student athletes have. The requirements on time are far greater for the student athletes than ordinary students but there are great rewards. She mentioned the coming trip to South Africa, stressing the team bonding opportunity and as well the field hockey international experience. It is her goal that every field hockey player gets a chance to play internationally while at Lafayette.

In a conversation with me later, when attendees had a chance to speak individually to the coaches Stone said how pleased she was with the team’ attitude and skill development, mentioning some individuals who have made remarkable progress this spring. The team leaves for South Africa after Memorial Day.

Sherryta Freeman spoke about her planning progress and said in the early months there would be reforms at the edges but expected to see noticeable progress as we embraced the changes she envisions.

Both my wife and I were impressed with the event and can’t wait to see the progress as the fall approaches.

Everything seemed to come together for the Lafayette Field Hockey team in a four way tournament played in perfect weather Saturday afternoon. The sun was out all day warming the field and the stands filled with fans. For Leopard fans it was especially good, as they produced a flood of goals against a field of three opponents they will meet this fall. Patriot League foes Bucknell, and Colgate were present as was Ivy League rival Cornell. Last year the Leopards had beaten Bucknell and Colgate by one goal margins and lost to Cornell by two goals.

Delahanty and Welch Scores Two

Theresa Delahanty explodes into the Bucknell defense

Lisa van der Geest finds her way through the Colgate defense this spring

Liza Welch flips the ball over the Bucknell defenders stick

Theresa Delahanty, the Leopards center midfielder scored two goals while showing her usual aggressive play challenging each opponent to stop her penetrations into the scoring circle and ball distribution. But it was also an aggressive defense that ultimately gave Lafayette fast break and ball control all afternoon. Opponents were limited in shots and corner opportunities as goalie Sarah Park showed an aggressiveness in the cage that turned away what scoring opportunities there were.

Since there was no official scoring and I will try to give credit to what I thought I saw and could remember, but if anyone at the game would like to PM me I would gladly correct or add information.

The first goal of the afternoon was during a corner opportunity by Audrey Sawers who was dangerous to opponents all day demonstrating her reach and strength. Bucknell was the opponent and at the end of the 25 minute game, it was Lafayette with the win 1-0.

Next up was Colgate who was stymied as Delahanty, Liza Welch and Caroline Turnbull used a variety opportunities in corners and second and third shots to find the back of the cage.

In last game Cornell fell in a  2-1 finish, as Lisa van Geest and and Theresa Delahanty  tallied to put the Leopards in the lead for the tournament giving them the opportunity to play Bucknell in the championship game.

The game went back and forth but Lafayette was to use an exciting counterattack attack to Bucknell’s  usual high press. Kristen Taylor was to score a beautiful goal thwarting a Bucknell scrum in front of the cage. Welch was there for her second goal as the two goals were to give the Leopards a well earned 2-1 victory.

The Lafayette squad was to benefit from the rising senior leadership, all day, from Adriana Pero, Liza Welch,Kristen Taylor, Rachel Bird,  and Theresa Delahanty. Bird’s return to the defensive backfield having recovered from a concussion suffered in the first spring competition was helpful to a strong defensive backfield led by rising junior Lisa van der Geest.

Opponents next year will not be pleased to play a team that is deep and as I observed on the sideline  they were talking and working together like a well lubricated engine. Passes were made to where teammates were GOING TO BE rather than were they were at the time. They showed strength and aggressiveness at goal getting second and third shots while being in good position for deflections.

While the team will now take a short break to study and engage  with their books for final exams they will return to the practice field in late May to prepare for their international tour to South Africa. After that, it’s training on their own as many will remain on or near campus this summer before the grind of early preseason training and the real championship season.

Sadly, it will be my last real view of the team until the summer, but there will be a view of the freshman at summer camps and their may yet be some additions to the group of first year recruits.

The Leopards traveled to the top of Manhattan and Baker Field, the athletic complex for Columbia University on Saturday. The three van convoy arrived at about 9 am on the most beautiful day of an otherwise gloomy spring. The sun was shinning and the 72 degree temperature made it a perfect day for field hockey. It was to be a long day of 4×25 minute games that would not end until 3:40 in the afternoon.

Their usual retinue of parents and fans were there early to grab a spot adjacent to the football stadium to set up a table of snacks for their hockey warriors and friends between games.

The team welcomed captain Rachael Bird back on the field after having returned from a concussion suffered in the very first spring encounter with Villanova. The team is still absorbing their new schemes and settling in to different spots on the field. Everyone is still looking for an explosive offense and did see some scoring with Adriana Pero and Sam DiMaio scoring their first goals of the spring.

Adriana Pero sweeps the ball out of harms way

Theresa Delahanty powers her way through the Monmouth defense

Park readies to block shot from Hofstra attacker

The defense looked strong in three of the games with Lisa van der Geest showing her usual leadership on the field,  now joined by the veteran Bird in the backfield. I was struck by some late intensity by Kristen Taylor against a tough Albany team. Jen DeLongis was very solid as she got into the mix along with her teammate Grace Angelella. Theresa Delahanty moved the ball through defenses with her usual aggressive style, unintimidated by the tough opposition.

To my mind Sara Park had her best afternoon of the spring and showed no ill effects from previous knee surgery. She moved back and forth with alacrity and was fearless in sprinting out of the cage to meet an opposing attacker.

The competition was worthy and the Leopards met Monmouth, Hofstra, Albany and Rutgers. The Hofstra game did show the Leopards to be a little tired near the end of the day. They tied Monmouth, Albany and Rutgers while heavy legs undid them against Hofstra, a team they beat last fall by multiple goals. The effort against Albany and Rutgers was particularly impressive. Progress was demonstrated with the 1-1 tie against Monmouth who had a good outing against the Leopard three weeks ago.

There remains one play day on the familiar grounds of Rappolt Field this coming Saturday before getting into final exams. This year it will be back to the practice field in late May as the team gets ready for it’s South Africa competitions in Capetown in early June.

After that it will be up to the team to prepare on their for the real thing this fall, beginning with practices in early August!!

Addendum: There is still time to register for the meet and greet with the new Athletic Director, Sherryta Freeman at the Radnor Hotel at 6 pm. She is excited to hear from you, and answer what ever questions you may have. Go to Goleopards to register online or contact Josh Azar the Executive Director of the Maroon Club