Tag: division one sports

Leopards Finish Regular Season With 6-4 Win Over Delaware

Lauren Kurek Lines Up Shot That Opens Scoring

In a game that seemed to cram a season’s worth of action in four quarters, the Leopards showed their character and spirit by turning away a game Delaware team to end up on top 6-4.

Half the scoring came from a three goal hat trick by Lena Thedrian. It was the second time this season that Lena was to get three goals in a single game. In this game it involved an effort that was to turn away a strong effort by Delaware.

The game had everything to offer. I can’t remember the last time there were three official’s reviews, along with several other reviews at crucial times during the action. The game was played on a windy cold afternoon, that rivaled any game played at Metzgar, the Leopards home turf. Adding to the action was a Delaware turf that was very fast that promoted offensive fire works.

First year player Lauren Kurek opened the explosion of scoring by taking a feed from Ellie Barton 13 minutes into the first quarter. In a skilled one on one move, she found her opening, delivering a strike using her back hand giving the Leopards a one goal lead.

Delaware answered seven minutes later with a goal of their own knotting the score at 1-1. Delaware seemed to take control by adding a second goal at 25:02, as the Leopards tried to find the answer to the Blue Hens resurgence. Lafayette retired at half time trying to figure things out on the short end of a 2-1 score in Delaware’s favor.

Four minutes into the second half captain Josephine Van Wijk, using an assist by Lea Good and Katie Gibb during a penalty corner tied the score again. It was Lena Thedrian who scored the first of her three goals, putting Lafayette ahead 3-2 using a drag flick during another penalty corner.

It wasn’t much more than a minute later that Delaware was gifted a penalty stroke, allowing them to tie the game and shift momentum in their favor. They followed with a score 5 minutes later putting them up for the last time 4-3.

It was then that the Leopards and Thedrian took charge with a surge with goals at 48:00 and 54:21 giving Lafayette a one goal lead with assists from Olivia Krey, Katie Gibb and Lea Good. Delaware then pulled their goalkeeper in a last attempt to rescue the game, but it was Stella Malinowski who delivered the “coup de grace” with a final goal a 57:07.

Raffi Fragomeni had 7 saves during the contest as Lafayette faced 17 shots from Delaware, while delivering 15 of their own scoring the 6 goals. It was aided by 12 penalty corners to Delaware’s 8 including the stroke.

The Leopards will move on to the post season with a meeting at American University with Bucknell on Thursday at two o’clock. The last encounter was a 2-1 overtime win against the Bison. American will meet Boston University at 11.

Unfortunately, the Patriot League tournament will be played without the customary video review since American is without the technology.

Leopards Finish League Regular Season With 1-0 Win Against Boston University

Feline Reuskin closes in on Boston player
Katie 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.

Lafayette Gets Come From Behind Victory 3-2

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!!

American Puts Lafayette On Back Foot In 3-1 Loss

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!!

Leopards Land On Top Against Bucknell In Overtime Thriller 2-1

It’s a full house of 500 fans

In an evening of very high level and intense hockey, Katie Gibb, and Kiley Gallagher, along with Lena Thedrian, providing two crucial assists, the Leopards delivered another overtime thriller to 501 fans. Never to be counted out, Lafayette fought through 3 periods of pretty even hockey, to finally tie it up with 6 and 1/2 minutes left in the game. It was a penalty corner and a rocket delivered by Thedrian, that found Katie Gibb in front of the goal, who responded with a much needed tip in.

Until then, it was Bucknell’s Reese Czajkowski, with a Gianna Purorro assist on penalty corner of their own at 20:24, that provided Bucknell with the single digit lead. The game had all the feel of a championship effort, and the timing of the equalizer provided the faithful a chance to appreciate the heart of this team.

But tying the score would not be enough, as the game moved to overtime. Bucknell faced a two player shortage in the opening moments of overtime due to two late green cards. For most fans, it seemed that would have sealed the deal, but the Bison’s made it through and at 5 1/2 minutes the Leopards delivered the deciding blow with Kiley Gallagher finding a looping assist from the ever present Lena Thedrian ( who played 64 minutes) ending the game 2-1.

Excitement throughout the game was also provided by Josephine van Wijk, who was limited to 27 minutes nursing a practice injury, but managed to provide one on one penetration to the circle, dribbling through an aggressive defense featuring her strong stick skills.

Again, Lafayette provided a plethora of thrills by the whole team, demonstrating courage and fitness that has captured the appreciation of their many fans.

Having to fight back Lafayette won the tale of the statistics with shots 12-10 (7 coming in the forth and overtime periods) and they out cornered their opponents 4-3 ( Bucknell’s corners were all in the first half). Fragomeni had another solid performance in the cage with four big saves!!

The team will receive their championship rings from last year and be honored at the football game on Saturday. Sunday they will meet Dartmouth at home, in pursuit of their 7th win and travel next Friday to American!!

Leopards Battle With Number 5 Syracuse But Stumbled In The End

Josephine van Wijk speeds past Syracuse

Yes, in the end it was a 2-5 loss but our Leopards for much of the game were going toe to toe with perhaps the toughest opponent of the regular season. At 1:57 van Wijk stunned the Syracuse visitors with goal putting Lafayette up 1-0. Wijk delivered without an assist and expertly drove the ball passed the stunned Orange goal keeper. It would take Syracuse 5 minutes to find the equalizer from Graduate Student Bo van Kempen with the assist of Pati Strunk and Lana Hamilton.

First year Rosilie van Gool puts Lafayette ahead 2-1

The tie held up until Roselie van Gool with the help of Lea Good and Katie Gibb put Lafayette ahead 2-1 at the half. At that point, Syracuse led in shots 11-4, but Raffi Fragomeni stood tall having six saves to 2 for Syracuse. Lafayette showed much of the determination and skill that emerged in the preseason. I was also impressed with the play of Lena Thedrian whose strong presence in the backfield and was starting much of the offense with long accurate passes.

However, it was the two penalty strokes by Van kempen in the third and fourth quarter that was to prove the Leopards undoing. Despite all that, there were moments that showed the Leopards determination and heart. I saw long strong and accurate passes, a defense that sparkled at times, and effort that if continued will serve this team well for the 2/3rd of the the season to go!

This first third of the season has prepared for the Leopards for a championship run at a second League championship. I still believe this team has extraordinary talent that will be refined when the “second act” begins its quest to host the championship tournament. That second act opening curtain is against Lehigh at Lehigh on Friday night. What a better way to start than to get that W against the “Brown from Bethlehem.” SIX PM BE THERE!

I will preview the game later in the week!

Leopard Celebrate Senior Day With Win Over Number 20 Temple

Coaches Celebrate Win

As the first fall Lafayette team to qualify for post season action, the Leopards got into the mood by knocking off Temple in an exciting overtime win in Easton. All five seniors started the game which opened with a dominating first quarter getting off a 5 shots to none for Temple. The most important shot was a Stella Malinowski penalty stroke at 11:57 which put the Leopards up 1-0.

Spanns gets ready to drive the baseline

Lafayette continued to dominate defensively with a 12-7 edge in shots for the whole game. However, the Owls did kick it into higher gear and scored a tying goal early, 35 seconds into the fourth quarter. This was indeed a contest worthy of the post season as the game went back and fourth for the remainder of regular time.

Spaans Steps Up

As the game went to overtime, the seven vs seven overtime format hindered the normal zone defense of Temple, as Lafayette and Spanns found space to utilize her speed. Fans were treated to her slashing style eluding defenders along the base line. The Lafayette faithful held their breath as the official held his whistle as Owl defenders tried all the could to stop her from dodging multiple players. As the Temple goalkeeper went to ground Spanns took a Darrah pass, pulled back and lifted the ball into the net.

Having qualified for the post season along with American, Bucknell and Boston, the Leopards are still in the hunt for hosting depending in part on the outcome of next week’s American game at Bucknell. American lost yesterday to Brown 2-1.

Lafayette Downs Providence On The Way to Seven And Four

Leneke Spanns sparks 2-1 victory

Before 307 fans, the Leopards pleased their audience with a 2-1 win. The first half looked like it was going to be a blowout and the first half statistics bear that out. Lafayette out shot the Providence Friars 12-0, out cornered them. 5-3 and outscored them 2-0 even after a deflected penalty stroke. They controlled time in the circle, and seemed by these eyes to dominate play.

Josephine van Wijk powers past Providence

It was only 6:11 into the game when Alex Darrah got her second goal of the weekend. It was a Spanns’ circle penetration and shot, when Darrah found the rebound and delivered it past the Providence goal keeper allowing Lafayette to establish the early lead. The home team Leopards delighted with 7 shots in that opening period. At 7:43 it looked like another point would be added as a result of a penalty stroke as the Providence keeper turned the shot away

Lila Pasic introduces herself to a Friar

The action did not stop in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Spanns took one of her 7 shots in the game and this time connected from the right side of the goal mouth, making the score 2-0 with under 8 minutes left in the half. Providence did manage 3 corners but the Lafayette DPC squad successfully kept the Friars 0 on the scoreboard.

It was the second half when Providence came alive, as perhaps they were thinking about that long homeward trek on I-95 ahead of them. In any case, they came out energized and threw a “zone and high press” at the Leopards and it began to have its effect on ball possession as they began to have more time in their scoring circle. Although they still only had 2 corners in the second half, they did have 5 shots to the Leopards 4.

Suddenly, with 11 minutes ticked off in third quarter Carly Van Benten from Providence found an opening that put the game at 2-1. Leopards needed to redouble their defensive efforts and shut down Providence for the rest of the game. Shots and corners remained level between the teams as Providence continued to try to get the extra goal to tie it up. In one last effort with under 5 minutes to go. Providence pulled their goal keeper as the Leopard defense stiffened, and the final horn sounded giving the Lafayette their win and the 7-4 record.

The Leopards used 23 players during the afternoon as they continue to display strong bench strength. On Friday, Lehigh comes to town not only as an intent rival but a competitor in the Patriot League. It is a key contest as neither team can afford the loss!! A third League win for the Leopards keeps them in the hunt for home field, not to say a place in the league championship tournament.

The American Eagles nearly lost their game with Colgate yesterday but pulled out.a miracle win with one second left on the clock 3-2. They still have yet to play Boston and Bucknell.

But next week, it’s Lehigh our heroines need to focus on.

American Gets By Lafayette In Double Overtime

As the late great Yogi Berra might say, it was ” deja vu all over again,” as Lafayette lost to the American Eagles 1-0 in a similar play that ended the 1-0 championship game last season. The game was played at that level as each team had their chances during regular time. Game statistics were a reflection the closeness of the action. American led in shots 9-8, while Lafayette led on shot on goal 5-4, American’s goalkeeper Bryn Underwood had 5 saves to Raffi Fragomeni’s 3. American led in corners 3-2.

Several times the Leopards had breakaway opportunities which were stopped by American’s fifth year goalkeeper coming out to meet the threat. It was the class of the Patriot League, in my opinion in this early game. American had lost in three other overtime games this season. It was American’s first League win, so there is a lot of hockey yet to play but it is a huge step up to claim another home field advantage by the DC based American Eagles.

The Leopards will move on to Happy Valley with a meeting with nationally ranked Penn State on Sunday. A win would certainly help with the sting of tonights game, but the Leopards will face another challenge with an ever improving Bucknell Bisons next week in Lewisburg

It’s A Character 1-0 Win For Leopards As Fragomeni And Spaans Shine

Raffi Fragomeni has an excellent weekend with a 89 pct save percentage

In an intense game that was competitive right to the end, the Leopards emerged with a quality win. Leneke Spaans put the Leopards in the lead with her second game winning goal of the weekend. The one to zero lead was preserved right to the final buzzer as Fragomeni and the defense needed to turn away three straight corners in the last one minute of fifteen seconds. In addition, there were multiple video reviews which added to the tension. The last occurred with 3 seconds left after which the fans on the sideline breathed a sigh of relief with a 1-0 win against a quality opponent.

Spaans circles towards the goal

But be not misled, this was a team victory earned on the pitch today. It would be hard to name outstanding individual players as everyone put their heart and soul into earning the win. There was play after play when it looked like Delaware tried to turn it around and someone came up with a big play to reestablish momentum

Laine Delmotte and Josephine Van Wijk team up to stop Delaware advance

Although there is no official stat for time in the attacking end the Leopards would have had that stat hands down. It was not because Delaware was not a fine hard working team, but Lafayette’s speed and skill seem to overcome their opponents at crucial times. If there were mistakes, there was back up to turn it around. The Lafayette defense seems to be everywhere.

Lea Good and Mackenzie Hall trap Delaware along the sideline

American lost their second game of the year as Boston University lost to Boston College, Lehigh won over Wagner, Colgate lost to Ohio State and Holy Cross beat LIU in a shoot out. So Holy Cross and Lafayette are the only Patriot League teams emerging from the weekend undefeated.

Lena Thedrian was a force all game long!!

The Leopards will travel to New England risking their undefeated record against Dartmouth on Friday afternoon and New Hampshire on Sunday,