Tag: Lafayette College

Lafayette Rolls Against Boston U

October 30, 2026 was the date that Lafayette captured lone possession of the Patriot League regular season title. It was also the date that the Lafayette Leopards showed they are among the best field hockey teams in the country. Yes, they are ranked 15 in the NCAA rpi rating, and 17th by the NFHCA, but they demonstrated it to the 700 fans who saw them dominate a very good offensive Terrier squad.

The Leopards were 13-3 better in shots, 6-1 better in penalty corners, undefeated at home, highest margin of victory in the League, 81 % save percentage, and a .71 goals against average all season. Only one goal was scored against them in all league games. We now start 0-0 in the League tournament and they will have to prove themselves all over again to get to the NCAA tournament. I believe they will be ready as they have drawn Holy Cross in the first round this Thursday at noon. If they prevail they will play for the auto bid on Saturday.

What I saw Friday night was a thing of beauty. Anyone who views that game could not deny, this is a special team. Everyone was playing championship field hockey. The Leopards used 18 players. The Terriers used 15. The Leopard’s 18 kept the intensity all night.

As expected, the first quarter was hard fought but Lafayette managed to set the tone early with a 5-1 advantage on shots and a 3-0 edge on penalty corners. One had to know it was only a matter of time before the ball would reach the back of the cage. We had to wait until 25:59 when Lena Thedrian would connect with Lea Good and Katie Gibb, using her drag to rocket past the Terrier GK for the first score. Lena was to have 3 shots, all totaled 2 on target.

The Leopards exited the first half with a 1-0 lead and the Lafayette faithful wishing for a little insurance. The insurance goal came off the stick of sophomore Feline Reuskin, who solved that problem using a rebound after a penalty corner 8 minutes and 40 seconds into the third period.

From the first shot from Linda Nova 2 minutes into the first period to the impressive controlled passing at the end, that denied Boston the ball and a chance to even the score, it was a demonstration of fine hockey. The coaching staff will have this team ready for the challenge as they did Friday night. The coaches have worked tirelessly planning each game through out the season. This team has the best record of any Lafayette team this fall and the coaches should take a bow!!!

Moving on to Thursday the Leopards should keep in mind the narrow 1-0 victory earlier in the year over the Crusaders. Somehow I am sure there will be no let down. It was a great privilege to witness Friday’s game. I look forward to this coming Thursday!!

Naomi George via Linda Nova Deliver Winning Goal Against Brown

It was a unexpectedly gritty contest on a perfect sunny afternoon, that wasn’t decided until seven minutes were left in the game. In only the second game between the two schools, it devolved into a struggle that was to be decided by one goal. The last meeting was similarly decided by a single goal years ago.

Lena Thedrian was to open the scoring 18 minutes into the contest by using her drag off a penalty corner assisted by Olivia Krey and Katie Gibb. As her rocket crossed the goal line, the feeling was this was to be the opening that would flood Brown’s cage much like last week’s game against William and Mary.

There were several chances early on that were missed. In fact, shots favored the Leopards 4-1 in the first period, although in the second period shots were an even 3-3. However, the Leopards by the end of the half, were up 4-0 in corners. But the longer the Brown Bears hung around the more intensely they fought back.

The third period saw a momentum change as Brown began adding penalty corners 3-2 and another 3 in the fourth. Addie Kahn made 6 saves during this stretch. Inevitably with 10 minutes to go in the game Grace Almeida from Brown delivered a tying strike during a scrum in front of the cage, it was 1-1.

It was then that the Leopards showed why they are a ranked team! Linda Nova intercepted the ball, and sprinted towards the shooting circle dodging opponents along the way. As she entered the circle she reversed her stick and shot toward the goal where Naomi George, her training kicking in, delivered a deflection into the cage.

Brown was not done as they pulled their keeper. With less than two minutes to go Lafayette gets a yellow card and all of the sudden Brown is up two player in field. The defense kicks in. Finally, with seconds left Lafayette get control and the clock runs out with a Lafayette victory and 14 wins on the books.

In the meantime in Worcester, Mass, Holy Cross has won their game against American in a shoot out! The Patriot League field is set. It will be Lafayette, Boston, American and Holy Cross. The seeding is TBD. Lafayette plays Boston on Friday which will determine who will host. Holy Cross will play Colgate on Saturday and American will play Lehigh. A win by Colgate will give Holy Cross the 4 seed, who will play the one seed. A win by Holy Cross gives them the 3 seed and they will play the two seed. The winner of the PL tournament will go to the NCAA national tournament.

Lafayette Has Record Day Against Lehigh 11 to 0

Lafayette rolled in an afternoon league and rivalry game against Lehigh. It seemed like Lehigh could do little to stop the steamroller that was the Leopards. The Leopards broke a League and School record that stood since 2002 for the most goals in a single game. That game was against University of Albany in which Lafayette prevailed 10-2. That game was 24 years ago, and Jen Stone, the current Lafayette coach, scored 2 goals that day.

This time it was Rosalie van Gool who scored 9 points with 3 of the goals occurring in the first half. She added three assists in the second half adding to one in the first half. The goal scoring spree was joined by Stella Malinowski with 1, Katie Gibb with 2, Laila Pasic with 1, Lena Thedrian with 2, Emma Maher with 1 and freshman Katie Jackivicz 1 with her first collegiate goal.

Scoring was opened by van Gool with only 2:43 gone in the first period with assists from Gibb and Thedrian on a corner. In fact all three of her hat trick goals were on penalty corners. By the end of the first period it was obvious what the outcome would be with a 4-0 lead. Scoring actually did slow down with 2 goals in the next two quarters finishing with 3 in the fourth . The last score came from Katie Gibb’s second goal with the assist from van Gool at 57:41.

More evidence of Lafayette’s dominance was the 37-2 shot advantage and the 15-1 edge in penalty corners. Lehigh’s goalkeeper had 14 saves, while Lafayette’s Addison Kahn needed to make 2 to preserve the shutout. Lafayette is undefeated at home and in the League.

The home record will be challenged by three games against William and Mary, Brown, and Boston University. The games will be this Sunday, Sunday the 25th, and the regular season finale on Oct 30th, which could definitively determine the home field for the PL tournament. Lafayette has locked in a place in the post season, as has American. The Leopards have also locked in a share of the regular season championship. If Lafayette beats BU, the home field goes to Lafayette. A regular time loss might give the Eagles home field again……….but first things first!

Mental Toughness Is Built In October

As we moved to this past weekend in the schedule, we realized how it would demonstrate the mental toughness to challenge for the championship. The Leopards, as they continued to win and climb in polls were beginning to to paint a large target on their back. No longer was Lafayette looking for the upset, but others were looking to upset the Leopards. A win would set the agenda and tone for their season.

This was no more obvious than the battle between American and Lafayette friday night. It was a struggle between rivals for the regular season title and the home turf for the Patriot League tournament. No doubt each coach, Jennings and Stone peeked at earlier season games for a clue to success on Friday. Additionally there was the national rankings as an additional painted target!!!

For most of us fans, it was given that the end result would go to who could successfully navigate the details and make the least mistakes. For most of game it was this cautious respect that would dictate play. The game was played at the midfield interrupted by forays to the circle as openings showed themselves. Goal tending was crucial as Addisson Kahn turned away four shots and Teagan Harmon from American turned away two in five periods of play.

At the end of the fifth period both teams were left standing at 0-0 and would go to a shootout. American had accumulated seven shots ( mostly on corners) and Lafayette had tallied five. Each had two corners apiece. American’s second penalty corner in overtime was a crucial turning point in the game. It was after that it became clear that a shootout was likely.

Each coach, at the end the overtime period would designate their shooter for the overtime, but it was Coach Stone who was to change her Goalkeeper to Campbell Lemmick, a second year player who had yet to record minutes in any college game. Stone knew that Campbell had the quicker feet required to the task. Addison had done her part and the cage was ceded to the sophomore.

Stella Malinowski and Lena Thedrian each made their goal Gools, when American Emila Winkler was to stopped by Lemmick. Van Gool was stopped as well along with American’s Sam Kokx. Lea Good stepped to the line beating the American keeper making it three to one. Nora Tremble, American’s last hope was denied by Lemmick’s leg pad putting the win in the Lafayette column.

The first challenge ( and most important win) was to go to Lafayette who now is undefeated in League play. Sunday in another overtime battle the Leopards were to go down 3-2 to Penn State. It was clear this was again well contested but Lafayette was to come up short. It was an upset but the Leopards will still have a challenge ahead against League rival Bucknell on Friday. A loss by Bucknell could go a long way to eliminating them from the post season and putting Lafayette in the driver seat with a 4-0 record in the league, with five straight home games for the rest of October.

It will be a do or die test for Bucknell as Lafayette will need to beat them on Bison turf!! The Leopards have the heart and skill up for the task!!

Is It All In The Numbers??

10/02/2026…The date I have circled since mid-summer. The game with American is always a crucial part of the regular season. This year, it occurs mid-season with the Leopards as the nationally ranked team. Depending on which rank you subscribe to, the American Eagles will have to arrive on Leopard turf to face the number 19 ( NFHCA poll), number 7 ( NCAA and Field Hockey corner calculated RPI rank), or number 17 (ACR rank) national team rank. The Eagles’ RPI is 32.

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American got off to a slow start this season losing their first 3 games to California, Stanford and Richmond. Since then they have added W’s over App State,William and Mary, Towson, Bucknell, Lock Haven, and Maine. Last Sunday they lost to Providence. American comes to Easton with a 6-4 record, but 1-0 in the Patriot League. Lafayette of course is 8-1 with a 2-0 record in the League.

No doubt the outcome of the game will go a long way in determining the home field for the League tournament ( and a high RPI will have beneficial effect on an ultimate seeding in the national tournament).

But lest their be any doubt, American will come well prepared with both coaching staff’s having viewed hours of game tape to develop a plan. The last two games by Lafayette saw their opponents using most of their resources to jam the shooting circle and hold the score down hoping for a game winning opportunity. That was a strategy used by American’s in their 1-0 win against Bucknell, where they were to find the winning goal with 30 seconds left.

Looking at the raw stats, seems to favor a defensive battle. American’s offensive stats are boosted by beat downs against William and Mary (8-0), Towson (6-1) and Lock Haven (6-0). Eliminate those scores and their goals per game stat is reduced considerably.

Lafayette’s defense looks good per game goals against (.78) leads the league and American is 1.3. Addison Kahn’s save pct is .80 compared to Teagan Harmon’s save pct of .639. The amount of penalty corners per game is similar.

American uses their defense to start their offense so the task for Lafayette will be to contain American to their side of the field and try to maintain possession and get to the shooting circle.

The weather will be perfect, and these games are always well contested. I hope there is a big crowd to tilt the field the Maroon and White way!!

Lafayette Emerges Into Top 25 In One Rating After Successful Weekend

Lafayette moved to 5-1 after beating Rider 3-0 on Friday and dominating Drexel in Philadelphia 4-1. In Friday’s Lafayette was to take 36 shots scoring 3 times while Rider only was to only get off one shot the entire game. Malinowski opened the scoring for the Leopards with a stroke 6:48 into the game. Maddie Evans was to follow with a strike two and minutes into the second quarter assisted by Katie Gibb. Lena Thedrian hit on one of her rocket drag flick on a corner assisted by Oliva Krey and Gibb. Jade Regan, the Rider goalkeeper came up with 16 saves for her 60 minutes in cage.

Sunday’s game with Drexel had a 4-1 result but the Leopard’s had a different path to get there. Lafayette scoring came in the first, second and fourth quarter from Katie Jackivicz assisted by Maddie Evans, the second came from Laila Pasic minutes later, the third came from Elsa Wood to give the Leopards a 3-0 lead at the half. The third quarter was scoreless which let to a fourth quarter where Linda Nova added fourth insurance goal!

The two goals by first year players Jackivicz and Wood were the first of their careers and a warning to future opponents this team can score from anywhere. Passing was exceptionally accurate and receptions came on the run. Most of the play was in the Leopard side of the field and Drexel never seemed to slip into their fast break offense.

The Leopards appeared in Field Hockey Corner ranking 24 in Field Hockey Corner’s ACR method. They appear on anther ranking based on RPI which is 50 pct weighted by strength of schedule at 28.

Stars On A Team Or A Team Of Stars

Lafayette has certainly gotten off to a good start to the 2026 championship season. The only blemish is a 0-1 loss to the number one team in division one, Northwestern. To date they have a 3-1 record ,and along the way individual efforts have highlighted that record. Certainly and foremost could be the performances of Addie Kahn the Leopard goal keeper whose outstanding performance against Northwestern earned her goalkeeper of the week for the Patriot League last week, but her performance continues on with an outstanding game against Cornell stopping not one, but two penalty strokes preserving a 2-1 victory. She currently ranks 18th nationally in save percentage.

Another shining star on the Leopard lineup is Lena Thedrian whose goals per game, 1.25 ( which includes a hat trick against Temple), puts her ranked 9th in nation and second in the conference. Kate Gibb is ranked 7th in the nation in assists with at least 1 per game. Lena is ranked 14th in points per game.

The team itself is ranked 6th in country for defensive saves. The most important stat of course isthe won loss record of 3-1, which was against quality opponents. It does not getting any easier with Drexel, Penn State, Delaware, and Brown as future non conference foes.

However, there is always the in conference competition. Bucknell is off to its first 4-0 start in decades, BU has demonstrated a strong offense, Colgate has dangerous energy and there is always American lurking. Each game will be a”championship” game ,and Holy Cross and Lehigh will be looking for that playoff spot as well.

The prize in the conference battle of course is home field for the conference tournament. Hosting is a big advantage, as each field has it’s own characteristics. It’s been years since Lafayette was the site….it would be sweet if this year would see activity out there in late fall.

There is a whole team wearing Maroon and White and I suspect this team of stars will be making their mark in the record books.

Leopards Finish Preseason On High Note

In five days the Leopards will be playing for real. It’ll be a non conference game with Kent State on Friday August 28 2;30 CT. Today, they finished their preseason with a home game against Wagner. There was a lot for coaches to be pleased with, especially with a dominant performance by the offense. I don’t know if it would be wise to identify goal scorers etc, but suffice to say the Patriot League coaches got it right in their preseason selections.

Stella Malinowski can make her presence known

However, one could add to the story, the progress made by the first year players, and the improvement of the returning squad members, as well. Today I saw excellent speed and good skills against a team that at the end of last year was ranked ahead of Kent State.

Corners were well executed with Lena

The hockey was as sound as it was exciting to watch. As they step on that plane Thursday, I don’t see how they can be better prepared. In a cautious observation, first games can be difficult and I remind everyone of last years game with William and Mary…a game that should been a W, The second game on Sunday may be a different story but the Leopards should not look ahead. The most important game is always the next one.

I think Lafayette fans are in for a treat this fall and the team deserve every bit of support. This is a serious minded battle tested group and it will be fun to watch this all come together. Wagner opened with a press and Lafayette handled it in way that should give concern to opponents, League and Non League. It time to set the tempo early.

I have my tickets in hand for Chicago and I hope the return trip will be with a smile on my face. The first game will NOT be televised and Sunday’s match will be on the Big Ten network.

Go Pards!!!

Leopards Continue Preseason Prep

The 2026 Leopards continue to work under hot late summer conditions preparing for the coming season which is only one week away. They traveled to Monmouth and got taste of intense high level hockey. Monmouth showed their skill and experience by jumping out to a first quarter two goal lead, surprising Lafayette fresh off the bus ride from Easton. However, this is a gritty team and they battled back and soon would get help from first year Elsa Wood nailing her first goal in a maroon and white uniform.

Following Elsa’s lead, senior Katie Gibb would even the score in the second quarter. Monmouth would eventually add one more goal, but this was a good afternoon as the upper classmen showed the skill that brought them success last season while the first years gained confidence.

As each day goes by the team is starting see where they are on the field and where their teammates are. Lena Thedrian deserves special mention as she had 3 defensive saves during the afternoon. Her work last year merited recognition as the preseason defensive player of the year. She was selected along with Stella Malinowski and Rosalie van Gool to the Patriot League preseason all league team. Lafayette was recognized by being picked second in the Patriot League poll…American was picked first by the coaches.

In 25 years of watching Leopard hockey, I have never seen us picked first. The first League game is September 18 th at Colgate.

Patriot League Turns Over 57 Percent Of Head Field Hockey Coaches

Leopards go to Championship game

Apparently, in an attempt to upgrade the weaker programs in the League, or to replace a retiring Head Coach, the Patriot League will see a huge turnover at the top of four programs. Lehigh, Holy Cross, Boston University and Colgate will be changing leadership. In recent years, Lafayette, American, Bucknell and Boston have had regular appearances in the League Tournament. Perhaps these changes, if accompanied by cultural and material support can raise the profile of the League and give the League two bids to the national tournament.

In an era of NIL, portal activities, and eligibility extended to five years, these changes may be an action in response. I have for years recognized that the regional nature of the League corresponds to Field Hockey’s regional nature. It is not unusual to see a majority of the domestic players on the power school’s roster coming from the areas domiciled by Patriot League schools.

The list of changes follow:

Lehigh- Corey Mayer joined in May from an asst coaching position at Villanova

Holy Cross- Kim Coszenza joins from WPI and has already filled her staff of three assistants plus a technical director,

Colgate- Gareth Tenet comes from a five year tour as an assistant at Cornell and filled his staff. He has strong international background and I would bet we will see more internationals in Red Raider uniforms. Interestingly he has a very strong recruit from Easton in Olivia Milian

Boston University- Sarah Shutte is a 2008 alum in the well planned succession to Sally Starr. Boston beat Lafayette in the Patriot League final last year. Sarah was the head coach at MIT and has her staff in place.

Meanwhile, the three remaining teams are not letting grass grow under their cleats. American has recruited two transfers from Michigan State and Boston College to add to its five member class. Lafayette has its five member class ( and perhaps two international players) to announce along with a new assistant coach. Bucknell has shown improvement on many fronts.

Lafayette opens with Kent State and national champion Northwestern on the 28th and 30th of August respectively, It is about 30 days before the team reports for preseason and the full roster and staff additions should be announced by then! Lafayette has a number of nexus players coming in and two players are playing for the Canadian National team.

It will be a challenging year of hockey and fun for our fans.