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Running a flawless drill is not the same as an 11 v 11 game and in its first outing of the season it is clear that there is work to do in the coming days to be ready for the first game on the 25th against Hofstra. There is another 11 v 11 rehearsal on Monday against Columbia and I would bet it will be a different looking squad by then.

As the sun disappeared in the western sky, inexplicably the lights never lit up and by the time the teams got ready to practice shootouts, after a regulation “game “/scrimmage, and a ten minute overtime, I was wondering if we had to get the cars organized to shine on the field. But it was metaphorical, as the Leopards never quite lit up the field with play, although there were some individual moments. Ellen Colbourne took several shots from the field, including a number of reverse chip shots and drag flicks here and there, all sailing over the goal. I would guess those shots will be more on target as the season progresses, as will several opportunities by teammates close enough to the goal to deflect the ball to the back of the net. Colbourne was finding space and twice got into a scrum in front of the goal along with teammate Rosie Shanks.

Teammate and fellow co-captain Cody Hunsicker had at least one defensive save which has been her signature in previous seasons. Shanks as usual was in the mix, freshman Grace Angelella showed her speed on several occasions, Meg Lillis showed her strength on several 50-50 balls, Sam DiMaio was her ubiquitous self around the ball, and Lisa van der Geest showed great determination on defense along with Rachael Bird. The problem was, there was no coherent mix that put it all together tonight.

Breaking a high press, did present several fast break opportunities as Monmouth did overcommit at times, but the visitors showed more organized cohesiveness tonight. Monmouth who were champions of their league last year, traveled to Europe earlier in the summer and showed what an extra two weeks of practice can mean. Add to that a large contingent of seniors, 13 returning letterman, including 9 starters, and a goal keeper who was second in shutouts in Division one, and you have a squad that will challenge opponents early in this season. Monmouth opens on the 25th against Bucknell. That should be an interesting game.

Talking with the Lafayette team captains, they agreed there were things to build on and mistakes to correct in the coming days. They are grateful for the opportunity to fine tune themselves against Columbia, who just opened preseason this week. They were confident that progress will be obvious next Monday.

The first real, on the record game, is in one week and I would guess this weekend will not be one spent in reflection. Like the captains, I look forward to Monday, and not just because of the Eclipse…. although it would be nice to have the lights working by then.

 

Go Pards!

The Lafayette Field Hockey Team have elected three captains this year who have set goals to lead and motivate this group of already dedicated student athletes. As hard as preseason may be, once the season begins and 24/7 concentration on team formation is behind them, there will be the everyday distractions that student athletes will face. Aside from the obvious pressures of succeeding as a student that can be every bit as challenging as her responsibilities as an athlete, there are the social pressures that every young person faces. There will be sacrifices to be made and the team captains are not to be there as disciplinarians but peer leaders to remind their teammates they are just that…. a team with an overall goal.

This year the team will be led by three captains, two seniors and a junior. There is no doubt about their ability on the field, but all three have showed their willingness to demonstrate their devotion to team goals by example. Ellen Colbourne and Cody Hunsicker have had 4 years of success on the field and in the classroom, and have learned to prioritize and organize their lives as student athletes. No less dedicated is Junior Rachel Bird who already has shown her leadership on the field as a strong defender  and student.

All three are graduates of the Oaks Leadership Academy, which is an endowed program given by Cindy and Judd Linville in memory of her father Dr. Wilbur Oaks on the anniversary of his 60th year after  graduation from Lafayette. It is an ongoing program to teach student athletes on how to lead and the qualities of a successful leader. One student described the five elements of vocal leadership taught by the program.

1. The idea of a servant leader- a person who is there to  get their team through the tough times and rise above difficulty.
2. Confidence builder- To inspire confidence and lead their team past inevitable down periods
3. Refocuser- To rededicate the team to team goals when distracted by other events
4. Team Builder- To remind teammates of building a team attitude before self
5. Enforcer- speaking and reminding the team of their goals and rules to enable success.

All three have captured those ideas and have adopted specific goals to make a successful season. All three agreed on the need to score more goals. While that may seem obvious, there are elements of a disciplined game that get you to meet these goals. Cody Hunsicker mentioned  they must learn to avoid turnovers, and keep in mind the benefits of maintaining possession. Ellen Colbourne will remind the team to respect every opponent and never take victory for granted. Rachel Bird stressed the need to support and work together to meet team goals.

For the two senior captains, they have dedicated themselves not to leave any regrets on the field. This is their last shot as student athletes, and they want to make the most of it. Rachel Bird affirmed the senior’s goals and said she and the rest of the team would like to do it for them.

I asked the three captains about the newest Leopards, and they were enthusiastic. “They fit into our culture and everyone understands they have to learn a lot in a short period of time”. They were excited by the potential additional talent, and enthusiasm the freshmen bring to practice and eventually to games.

Ellen Colburne will be a student mentor and an intern during the new Oaks Academy sessions. A prestigious assignment!!

It is about two weeks until the opening whistle, and I asked what game are they looking forward to. They all answered, ” The next game always. We always focus on the coming game.”

They will have two preseason games to start putting it all altogether against Hoftra on the 25th. Thursday night the Leopards will take on Monmouth at 6 pm at Rappolt Field and next week there will be the last rehearsal against Columbia.

Yesterday the team turned into fans as they drove out to Spooky Nook to watch the US team and ex teammate Amanda Magadan take on the Candadian National team ( who had several ex-teammates of many of our Leopards). The US got a come from behind 2-1 win in an exciting match of skill, fitness, and strategy. Before that our Leopards were treated to lunch by Meg Lillis’ and her parents at her nearby home.

Back to work today!!!

 

Preseason is always a trial, a trial of stamina, a trial of skills, and a trial of teamwork. Only three days in, and already this team seems to be coming together. After two days of hard, difficult work, Coach Stone decided to let her foot off the gas pedal, and start to work on strategy and teamwork in a workout she characterized as “light.” There was very little standing around as the practice session was one of precision, as each segment was carefully planned out and orchestrated.

 

While field players worked on separates skills and patterns under the tutelage of Coaches Stone and Janice, Coach Sarah Dalrymple put the goalies through their paces. They joined the team halfway through the afternoon, participating in a combined live drill. If there was an emphasis on this day, it was echoed by Stone numerous times…” make the pass you have not the pass you want.”  She was stressing the need to not force passes that often leads to interceptions, and changes of possession.

 

 

 

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The veterans had an advantage as they knew and trusted their teammates already, but as the afternoon wore on, connections were starting to emerge as the first year players began to feel their place on the field. Patterns were more than just triangles, but movement and speed became part of the play.

At the end of practice the team played a game where the ball was bounced to them at the top of the circle. Divided into two teams they competed to see which team would get the ball to goal more consistently. It appears there are a number of competitions throughout the season and it is recorded to see which team prevails by the end.

After the final whistle, the team got in a circle for a self critique, to exam what they can improve upon. They came up with a list of things that could be worked on in the coming days. However, praise was also in order, as they named a player for particular effort that day. Today, it was freshman Grace Angelella. ( I wouldn’t disagree). That doesn’t mean there weren’t other good performances. Lisa Van der Geest not only looked fit, but was playing with extraordinary confidence……not good news for opponents in the future. She is on a mission, as she was the last player to leave the turf, practicing her shot on the sideline with Lola Dada.

Rosie Shanks and Ellen Colbourne looked in sync as they practiced in front of the goal while Audrey Sawer got better, and looked imposing as the afternoon wore on. In the end, I was impressed. Not because  this was a finished product, but what this team could be when the season begins. The team’s first exposure to competition comes next week on August the 17th at Rappolt Field against Monmouth for a preseason game at 6 pm.

The players really didn’t want to leave the field, which shows the kind of desire growing within the Leopards. Tomorrow is another practice day, and Sunday they will spend their time off traveling to the Pan Am Games in Lancaster, as the US will have a rubber match with Canada for the bronze medal. The last game between Canada and the US ended in a tie. No doubt there will be mixed emotions from team Lafayette. ( I asked Lafayette co-captains and native Canadians Rachel Bird and Ellen Colbourne who they would root for and without hesitation they blurted out CANADA, but  hoped former teammate Amanda Magadan had a good game. There was no doubt Co-Captain Cody Hunsicker was rooting for the  Red, White, and Blue and pulling for Magadan).

Addendum: There are some changes coming to the athletic venue this season, stay tuned and perhaps I will be able to reveal all, after the game on the 17th. But it is exciting!!

Next up is a conversation with our new co-captains, Junior Rachel Bird, Seniors Ellen Colbourne and Cody Hunsicker!!

In 1917 the first american troops arrived in France. Eventually the whole force paraded through Paris. The American commanders stopped at the grave of the Marquis de Lafayette and exclaimed the words, “Nous voila,Lafayette.” Lafayette we are here, announcing the return of the favor extended by the Marquis in his support and participation in the American War of Independence. The quote was originally ascribed to General Pershing, but in fact it was actually uttered by LTCOL Charles Stanton. “Lafayette we are here,” could have been said earlier today as 24 field hockey athletes, along with their retinue of parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters arrived for preseason. Collectively the group  traveled over 10,000 miles to arrive at the college established after the Revolutionary war hero’s triumphant tour of the United States in the 1820’s.

As always, especially for our first year team members and their parents,  it is a poignant moment. I detected a few hidden tears, but certainly there was pride as these young women ( and yes their parents) begin their passage into another phase of life.

 

The day started with the mundane tasks of move in. Keys were acquired, ID’s issued, and the these student athletes arranged their new home for at least the next year. The players had the support of the more senior players who have been here before. All had arrived last saturday, renewing friendships, getting together with  captain’s practices, and ,many trekked out to Spooky Nook to watch Amanda Magadan, Lafayette graduate, and the U.S. women’s team play the Canadian National Team. Several members of the Lafayette team who reside in Canada, had also played with members of the Canadian National Team.  So there was an interesting clash of allegiances.The game would be a 1-1 tie with Amanda scoring the only US goal on a redirect with only one minute run off the clock.

After a terrific brunch hosted by the upper class parents, the players moved off for the requisite physicals, pictures in their new uniforms, and a first team dinner. Tomorrow is the first day of real practice and points to a pre-season game on the 17th at 6pm at Rappolt Field with Monmouth University..

As the players moved on, the parents were treated to a low key reception at the iconic Lafayette College Hill Tavern (CHT) a favorite of students and alumni alike as long as I can remember.

Coach Stone briefly explained her relationships with her athletes and parents, while Josh Azer ( Executive Director of the Maroon Club), praised the parents as stedfast supporters over the years.  Many started the ball rolling continuing that  tradition. Your writer also added a few passing comments. The administrative requirements taken care of, no doubt all will be looking  forward to tomorrow’s first day on the turf as the 2017 Field Hockey Leopards.

I will be covering preseason practices right here, probably keeping a respectful distance until friday or saturday.

Coach Stone published, for the first time, a full description of her incoming class and it is intriguing. It is a geographically diverse class with home addresses ranging from Germany to Illinois, from Western Canada to New Jersey, Ireland to Maryland, with a little local Pennsylvania to keep us grounded. On the other side of the graduation ceremony is alumnus Amanda Magadan continuing to impress, following her starting efforts for the United States Women’s Field Hockey Team in South Africa, qualifying for the World Cup next spring.

Hockey fans will get a chance to catch this Lafayette all- american in action at the national training center over the coming week, in the Pan Am games right here in Pennsylvania. You can get an update and directions to Spooky Nook online at the USA Field Hockey website.

The honors keep coming for Amanda, as she has been selected as the Patriot League’s nomination for NCAA woman of the year!!! So for those you who are real fans and can’t get enough, you have a choice between new leopards and alumni veterans, college division one hockey, or international hockey at the highest level.

Getting some real info on the freshman class just wetted our appetite for the season to begin. With an August 8th report date fast approaching, I am sure the players are just as excited as I am.

I had previously previewed some of the class during the early signing period last fall. However, there has been some additional names, and more information. Overall here are some factoids. There are four players who are at least 5’6′ with two at about 5’11.” All have a state and some even some national recognition in their resume.

Lola Dada was the latest addition, and will give us talented depth at goal keeper. She comes from Parkville Md, and the Bryn Mawr school for girls. She was a four year starter on a team that make to the IAAM quarterfinals. She is multi talented, playing softball, and throwing the discus and shot put for her track and field team garnering a fifth in her local championships. Like all our recruits, she a scholar and will major in neuroscience.

Audrey Sawers is joining our already visible North Vancouver contingent. She was a starter for five years on her hockey club at midfield and was named MVP and first all star in her provincial games. An all around athlete she played basketball and soccer for her school. She even found time to contribute to her track and field team. She will major in economics.

Anna Steps comes from Germany beginning her hockey career at Rahlistedter Hockey Club. She played on the Klipper Club placing second and third in her state championships several times. They were German Champions in 2015. She will major in psychology. Ana will be flying in from Hamburg.

Some additional facts, Greta Kulby’s father played soccer for Lafayette for two years before transferring to Wisconsin. Her mother played soccer at Xavier and her brother completes the Division one lineage as a soccer player at South Carolina.

The entire class can be found at http://www.goleopards.com.

 

 

 

There are only two weeks left on the calendar until the Leopard Field Hockey team reports for the grueling weeks of preseason. This will lead up to the first game with Hofstra on the 25th of August. Lafayette has unfinished business, as they  left Long Island last year with a 4-1 score against the Leopards. In fact, the whole early schedule will not be an easy one this year, and the first Patriot League game is early. Reforming as a team is as much mental as it is physical. For sure, arriving ready to play physically is paramount, but that only allows the player the ability to absorb the complexities of new offensive and defensive schemes, as well as adjusting to new positions.

College field hockey is all about a four year cycle. At Lafayette, baring injury, or acceptance of playing for a national team, red shirt years are rare. It is for all practical purposes a new team every year. The Leopards will have a new goalie, they will miss an all american, and all league performers. But this will be an opportunity to see individuals step up. More importantly, they will learn to connect and play with others, veteran and rookie alike.

Co-captain Ellen Colburne,  who may be the fastest player on the field in any game the Leopards play this year,  will be a challenge to defend. The inevitable double and triple teaming she will get will mean other players will need to be in those open spaces that will be  created. Kristen Taylor showed some of her skill last spring as an attacking midfielder. Rosie Shanks has become expert at second and third shots. On her knees, running full blast, or standing on her head she manages to get a shot on goal. Theresa Delahanty and Cody Hunsicker will bring new skills, having been selected to try out for the Under 21 US Team.

I could fill this page with those I believe can be difference makers this year, and I will as the season goes on. There will new names, that will enhance the Leopards, as competition makes each player better as the weeks progress. But it might be these last  weeks that could make a difference. The extra wind sprint, the learning of a new skill, and the enshrinement of these new skills, with new connections on the field could be the difference in tight games.

These veterans and the seven new first year players are getting ready with personal workouts, pick up games, and just hanging together. Many remained on campus during the summer and fortunately many live in the area. For example, a group this past sunday  got together after a sunday pick up game and traveled to the Delahanty’s for lunch and watched former teammate Amanda Magadan start for the US national team defeating and winning the  FIH semi-final tournament against Germany in South Africa.

Watching the US women come from behind, and winning on a shoot-out was certainly inspiring. It could make these Leopards relive their own game with BU last year, winning on a similar shootout.

But there are more memories to make this year, and this team is up to the task. The schedule will not give them breaks, with several NCAA qualifiers and the defending national champion in their way. Somehow they will dig deep and find their winning attitude.

Let the games begin!!!

Caitlin Dallmeyer returns for her third year reloading with with a roster of 20. Having lost 5 seniors and 4 other underclassman, Dallmeyer brings in a class of 9 recruits hoping to strengthen her lineup. As I look at her recruits she has succeeded in at least adding depth and competition to the Goalkeeper position. Paige Innarella. last year’s sophomore goal keeper will face competition with incoming freshman Emma Gromacki who in 2015 had a 91 percent save average in high school, but Division one field hockey can be different.

With graduation departures, Lehigh loses half of their shots and I am sure Dallmeyer was thinking offense when she went after Lenke Havos the Mountain Hawks first dutch recruit. Defense will have to be better because in Patriot League play  with only 9 goals scored against  League opponents and suffering 16 goals in the process means the defense will have to improve while the offense begins to figure things out. However Lehigh was still in the hunt for a playoff position finishing just out with a 2-4 record. Carotenuto is back who played a key role on the offense and looks to be a key contributor again this year.

Improvement has been steady but the whole league is moving forward. The question for every team is…. are you moving faster than the rest of the League. Perhaps we will get more of a clue in the out of conference schedule. Lehigh’s early schedule will give them some time to get oriented. The first game is with second year division one team LIU Brooklyn, two days later on August 27th they meet Ohio State in Bethlehem as  the Buckeyes arrive with new coach Jared Martin from Duke ( Dallmeyer’s alma mater). They follow with LaSalle,Sacred Heart, and a scrappy Monmouth team in Long Branch, N.J. Holy Cross is their first PL game which will be a must win for both schools if they have any hope for a playoff slot. Siena follows with  probable league favorite American and Bucknell a week later.

October 6 is the BIG RIVALRY game with Lafayette which will probably be a must win again, for both schools. In any case, Lehigh is another piece of an ever competitive puzzle for Patriot League fans.

 

 

 

The College of the Holy Cross returned to the Patriot League Tournament for the first time in six years last year.  This was a scrambling, hustling team that made the effort count when needed. This will be Coach Linsey Jackson third season. She found players that became contributors even in the most unexpected places. Goalie Marcia LaPlante was not even on the squad at the beginning of camp but Jackson found her on the ice hockey team and asked her to join her team on the turf. She started 15 games getting better at each outing. Her overall stats showed an impressive 80 percent save percentage all season and in the Patriot League. In the Patriot League semi-final against American she faced 30 shots and 16 penalty corners and held American to one goal.

Jackson will have her two top scorers return in Junior Emily LoPrete and Senior Maureen Conolly. Of the sixty shots during regular season Patriot League games, the two accounted for thirty six. Interestingly enough, there were few assists recorded by the Crusaders. There were no Crusaders  appearing in the stat sheet for Patriot League leaders for assists.

The Crusaders won their games on fast breaks and reliance on their excellent keeper to give them their 3-3 record in the league. No doubt Jackson will want to strengthen her team with a more diversified attack and stronger field defense. She lost six seniors to graduation but will be taking in 7 new freshman including dutch recruit Minke Koonen. The seven recruits will bring the Crusader squad size to 27.

Jackson has improved the schedule including UMass, Quinnipiac, and Temple. Lafayette will be their regular season finale and will be played at Rappolt Field on Saturday Oct 28th at noon.

The Colgate Raiders and the  Patriot League will welcome a new coach to their ranks in April Cornell who returns home to her native central New York roots. Cornell is no coaching rookie as she has spent the last 11 years at Hofstra as an assistant coach and before that was at the University of New Hampshire. On the playing field, defense was her forte as she was team Captain for UConn as she excelled and lauded for her skills. She has hired Ayla Halus who was a Penn State goalie in 2012 and has been coaching that same position at the University of Indiana.

Their skills will be tested in this “reconstruction” of the Colgate Field Hockey program. In recognition of the challenges faced, she saw the need to bring in a huge class for her initial year. Thirteen freshmen will be wearing Colgate colors this fall. They will be replacing four seniors and two others who will not be returning. There are few veteran players who could be called shoo-ins, to start in the first game, and I would expect to see many first year players occupying key roles in September.

The statistics bear out the enormity of her task. Colgate scored a total of 6 goals all last season. In Patriot League games, they scored 2. In the meantime Patriot League opponents lit up the scoreboard for 30 goals against them. It wasn’t because their goalkeeping was all that weak. Returning senior goal keeper Maria Krull had a very respectable 72 pct saves percentage even with the onslaught of shots she endured. She was at 72 pct with 427 shots against her last season season along with 155 penalty corners. However, Cornell has recruited a freshman whose high school statistics merited her goal keeper of the year honors in Illinois. Emma Goldberg will provide very good competition for Krull and at the least, will give the Raiders strong back up strength.

Cornell’s other 12 recruits are a geographically diverse group with homes listed in the midwest to North Carolina and New England. Her hopes are high, as she is introducing her class on the Colgate web site two at a time as of this writing. Given the talents of these coaches and the defensive expertise, I expect to see improved defensive statistics next year.

This will be an extraordinary challenge, but new blood brings new attitudes, systems and personnel. Their Patriot League games are probably the toughest games of the season. The first League game will be in Easton against Lafayette on September 16 at noon. That game will be preceded by Umass Lowell, LIU Brooklyn, Saint Louis, Lock Haven, and St. Francis. There will be two Ivy League games later in season against Cornell and Brown.