Simone Hefting And Jenn DeLongis Provide The Difference With Important Goals 

Lafayette has now played 3 overtime games and finally put all that experience to work, coming up with the win in a hard fought game that saw intensity on both sides of the field. The first half was pretty even with Lafayette getting off 3 shots to Richmond’s 1. In addition it was my observation  Lafayette had time of possession as well. In addition, the Leopards had the only penalty corners in those first two quarters.

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In the previous two games this season with Bucknell and Lehigh, Richmond came from behind putting on a big push in the second half and overtime with Bucknell. This game looked familiar as the Spiders were to get off 7 shots in the second half and holding off the Leopards with no shots. Richmond had 4 corners in the third quarter.

It was Sarah Park who provided the heroics, especially in the second half and overtime. She had one save in the 2nd quarter and the 3rd, and it was in the fourth and over time period, she came up with additional 5 saves, 3 in the overtime period alone.

Jenn DeLongis scored first in the 2nd quarter with a beautiful deflection delivered off a shot from fellow seniors Caroline Turnbull and Cam Costello. Richmond’s answer came in the third on a corner as well. The next shot to be taken by Lafayette was a direct blast from Simone Hefting 3 minutes into the overtime as the Goal Keeper went down to block. Hefting found space between the GK and the left post to put a definitive end to the game.

It seemed to me the team played with awareness on the field of their teammates and  more confidently. That is not to say there could be improvement and I am sure there will be. Saturday marks the beginning of the Patriot League season and for all intents and purposes it marks the real beginning to qualifying for the playoffs.

Coach Stone was pleased with her team’s effort and is well aware of the upcoming game with Holy Cross, who have recently played Lafayette very competitively. ” We have played a difficult string of opponents, ” she remarked, noting that it prepares the Leopards for the rest of season,,,,especially the Patriot League foes. So next Saturday Sept. 21st at Rappolt Field is where the Patriot League challenge begins!!

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We saw 80 minutes of real hockey until it came shoot out time, where the Friars found the back of the cage for a 3-1 win in shots made. On the scoresheet it ends, to be a Providence win 1-0. However, what doesn’t get reported was the effort both teams put into the game. The action went back and forth with a terrific display of skill and athleticism. The pace of the game was definite Division One worthy. It ‘s a shame there couldn’t have been two winners.

However, that’s the way the game is played. It wasn’t without controversy as it appeared Lisa Van der Geest had what would have been the game winner as she rifled a shot in the    fourth quarter which appeared to be deflected into the cage. The official saw otherwise. From the vantage point of the stands it looked to be a goal. This is the second game in which Van der Geest did not have the opportunity to have a goal reviewed as would have happened in the ACC or Big Ten. PLEASE PATRIOT LEAGUE GET INTO THE 21st CENTURY AND ALLOW INSTANT REPLAY!!  

It’s done in basketball and football…come on people!!

I am still. proud of our Leopards they displayed grit, determination and heroics. Twice they had to play a player down, especially daunting during the overtime period. Lisa Van der Geest is a wonderful leader. She came back on the field after being hit on her thumb it appeared. Audrey Sawers was an ubiquitous presence on offense and defense. Cam Costello and Caroline Turnbull were all over the field. Sarah Park played wonderfully in the regular game and overtime, making save after save ( 6 for each GK). Shots were 12 to ll in Providence’s favor, and  each team had 9 PC’s,

Lafayette will win games, they are good!! Sunday might be the trick. Richmond beat Lehigh 4-2 with a better second half after Lehigh took early leads.

For the second time this season the stands approach 500 fans!!

It was youth day and a plethora of young players joined their heroines on the field during the pregame introductions.

Providence will leave the friendly confines of Rhode Island for only the second time this season. As far as I can tell, it may be their first visit to Lafayette, ever, as well. They are riding a three game win streak ( Maine, Bryant and Brown) and a two game unscored upon  run. The Leopards will be looking to avenge a 2-0 loss to Friars last year at their place during a senior day game. That game was played after an important win against Holy Cross the previous day. It was a day that both teams were only to take 14 shots, total, during the game. According to the Friars web site Providence has a 2-0 record with Lafayette.

This week both teams have played their last game on Sunday, and will have had all week to prepare. For Providence, it will be the only game of the week, before they play Old Dominion next week. Lafayette will be hosting Richmond at home on Sunday.

Lafayette will be playing only their second game at home for the season, and will be trying to break a three game losing streak, two of which were with top 20 teams. The relative stats are hard to figure out, but one thing is clear, Lafayette must begin to find their sustained offense, having only scored 6 goals on 39 shots to date. Providence has averaged 2,75 goals a game with their highest production against Maine, where they scored 5 goals. They have taken a total of 59 shots so far this season, to give them the 11 goals.

At this point in the season, it’s difficult to assess statistics, as can be demonstrated by the ACR ( Average Computer Rating), RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), and the SOS ( Strength of Schedule). Using those three indexes indicates an advantage to Lafayette. Calculated by Field Hockey Corner, the ACR is the average to two computer ratios, one based on goal differential and the other on won loss record. The RPI is based on .25 W/L record, .50 on SOS, and .25 on opponents W/L record. The SOS is based on opponents W/L record.

First, the key to understanding the outcomes, so far this season, is the SOS. Providence scores 75th on SOS while Lafayette scores 5th. Meaning to date, Lafayette has had the 5th most difficult schedule in Division one. Using RPI, in which 50% of the score is based on SOS Lafayette is ranked 30 while Providence is 58. (Lower is better). Even in the ACR, Lafayette get an edge 46 to 49. I do admit, that these indices get more reliable as the season progresses, but it does caution us, that W/L’s can be deceiving.

In any case, this is a competitive game, and the Leopards are at home. Looking at the internals Providence goals have been spread around. There are 4 players on Providence who have scored 2 goals apiece. Izzy Mendez (4),Kara Sanford (5), Niamh Gorwing (7), and Olivia Ward (13). Mendez and Gorwing are starters and the other two have come off the bench! Goalkeeping stats are in Providence’s favor with 78-68  save percentage.

I am looking for a good game with a good crowd of supporters!!!

Last night, Sept. 10 at 9:26 pm Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director issued a statement regarding the abrupt stoppage of an overtime game between Temple and Maine by an official of Kent State, so that fireworks could be set off near the adjacent football stadium scheduled for one hour and 15 minutes later.

” The unfortunate abrupt cancellation of the University of Maine versus Temple University NCAA Division 1 field hockey match played at Kent State University on Saturday, September 7 has caused great concern within out sport. The appearance is that the student athletes playing field hockey were not given the appropriate opportunity to complete their game due to circumstances around the start of the football pre-game fireworks and competition to follow.

As the National Governing Body for the sport of field hockey, we at USA Field Hockey are passionate that all who participate in this sport are given a fair opportunity to compete. Not allowing the teams to continue the contest following a single overtime and scoreless game hinders that chance and diminishes acceptance of field hockey. As we continue to grow this sport in the United States, this situation makes it even more difficult to empower our athletes and the field hockey community. We take. pride in the representation of the sport at the collegiate level and rely on it for the furthering our success on the national and international stage.

We at USA Field Hockey applaud both the University of Maine and Temple University for their handling of the situation and  will continue to support the idea that ALL STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE RIGHT TO COMPETE.”

Well said Simon!!

Since the initial reports on Saturday, there have been strong statements by Temple, national media, and Maine. The first remarks by Kent State were tepid at first, but after having time to absorb the impact, they made a stronger statement.

The University of Maine’s head coach and players had a televised press conference yesterday and the emotion was palpable. I would have liked to have seen the administration of the University of Maine at that conference as well in support! The Temple administration issued a statement Monday that was right on point.

WHERE IS THE NCAA?? Their absence of any action, is deafening to the senses. Perhaps they are chasing down minor compliance violations like flawed paperwork or an ice cream cone bought by a booster for a friend’s family member at a game. This action by Kent State is a direct violation of Title  IX. I don’t want to see the Kent Field Hockey program punished but perhaps a remedy that benefits all parties should be applied.

All athletic administrations should be in support of remedies that make sense. I would like to see more support from a variety of sources which will force the NCAA to take action. Perhaps their worry is that the ultimate consequence might be additional mandated monetary support for women’s athletics!!

I want equal access, no diversion of funds, equal pay, especially for asst, coaches, travel expenses on par with all sports. Again at the moment it looks like the NCAA has failed again. I hope I am wrong!!

William Rappolt

Tell Me It Isn’t So Joel

So, Temple and Maine travel to Kent State to play field hockey between each other. The Saturday game began early, but goes into overtime. According to Riley Field, a player for Maine, the first overtime ended at 10:45. And as people know, who are aware of the rules, in field hockey after the break, the second 10 minute overtime would continue in a “golden goal” format. If there is still a tie at the end it goes to a shootout.  So, I would estimate a total of 30 additional minutes max. remain to complete the game if a goal was not scored. I can arrange for the administration to receive a copy of the rules for their edification!!

However, there was a hiccup. It seems they were to play a football game at noon at the nearby stadium. It must have been a huge nationally televised game?? NOT….it was the big game against Kennesaw State. The field hockey field is adjacent to the 25,000 seat football stadium, Dix Field.( about 18,500 had paid for the football game) But to celebrate this marquee matchup, they were to have fireworks set off nearby the field hockey field. Now, perhaps the two football teams wouldn’t know it was time to start the game until the noise of the fireworks happened. I can’t imagine what would possess an intelligent person to do what happened next!.

The Kent State  “administration”, at 10:45 marched on the field hockey field, and stopped a game of which Kent State had invited both teams to play on their field. This was totally disrespectful and unnecessary.  It reflects badly on the University. I thought once a game begins only the referees can stop a game!!!

In case you’re wondering, the Athletic Director, whose job it is to enforce Title IX is Joel Nielsen. Or maybe the President of the University might appreciate a call. At the very least, Kent State should reimburse Maine and Temple for all expenses. in traveling to Ohio. Maybe the person responsible for this fiasco should consider another line of work that doesn’t require a sense of fairness. Just sayin!!!

Lafayette field hockey will play two opponents this weekend in Lynchburg Va., the home of Liberty University. The Leopards will be meeting two undefeated teams. First up on Friday will be Appalachian State who spent last weekend in the Washington, D.C. area going 2-0. On Sunday at noon Lafayette will be playing Liberty who at present is 1-0 and will play at 3pm against Richmond before the Mountaineer- Leopard game. The nationally ranked Liberty team beat JMU 5-1 on Sunday.

The Leopards would be making a mistake to overlook this confident, but tenacious Mountaineer squad. This is the best start Head Coach Megan Dawson has had since taking the job. In a press conference earlier this week she praised the Mountaineer defense… calling it gritty.

” We know we might be slight underdogs, but we will bring that gritty style to the game. It will be a tough game because teams will improve as they move on.” She is looking for more from her offense, especially in the area of penalty corners and given the new 4 quarter format, she predicted breakaways.” We are not cocky and see the weekend as a big test.”  She praised her unscored upon defense in particular.

Their leading scorer is number 13 Megan Smart who scored both game wining goals, and total of three out of the four goals all weekend…..all from the field!!

Aside from the unscored upon moniker, the stats are similar. Both team have four goals on the season. The Leopards have taken 9.5 shots per game, the Mountaineers 11. The percentage of goals vs shots is  21 percent for Lafayette and 18 pct for App. State. Leopards however, have given up 30 shots ( skewed by the Syracuse game) to the Mountaineers 15 shots.

After the Syracuse game, like Dawson, Head Coach Jennifer Stone had praise for her defensive unit, ” I thought our defensive unit was incredibly strong and resistant.”  She also opined, that the recent experience has primed this team for the rest of the season.

I suppose, since both coaches see their teams strong defensively, we are destined for a high scoring game (ha! ha!). But I do think its time for our scorers to break out. I personally hope to see more shots from Lafayette, providing our players with rebounding scoring opportunities. But we shall see. In any case, we will need to bring our “A” game against this improving program.

How Sweet It Is To Get The First One In The Books

In an evening the defense came up big, when they had too, the Lafayette Leopards left the field with a 2-1 win. The team needed to overcome adversity with having to survive 9 minutes of penalty cards and subsequent short handed play, to come away with a convincing win over a very game VCU squad. Both teams battled hard and the tempo was  worthy of Division One hockey.

The 15 minute quarter format improved the tempo of the game while it did limit substitutions somewhat. Sarah Park, the Lafayette GK may have come up with one of the best games of her collegiate career having come up with 6 crucial saves on the night. Many  were point blank shots in front of the goal. She was rewarded with cheers and hugs when the team entered the field at the end of the game.

But this was a team effort, and the offense came up with big plays as well. Freshman Felicitas Hannes was involved in both goals tonight, The first Lafayette goal came at 34:42 with Hannes delivering the ball to Sam Di Maio who expertly deflected the ball past the VCU goal keeper. Hannes did not need an assist for the second goal, as she delivered a strike in the 49th minute to put the Leopards up 2-0.

Two minutes later VCU was to put the game in range of overtime, as they delivered a goal with about 7 minutes left. From then on it was all defense as the corner defense came through, as did the field defense of Van der Geest, Hefting, Woolston and Park shut the door on the VCU offense. Remarkably, they needed to do it a player short, after a yellow card was delivered to Lafayette with 5 minutes to go!!

VCU repeatedly used their high press, but the Leopards were prepared and were to dodge and pass their way up field. This was a good solid win and should provide some momentum. The display of individual skill was impressive.

Meanwhile, in the rest of league, American won over New Hampshire 4-2, Lehigh won 1-0 over Rider,  while Colgate lost 1-4 to CMU, Holy Cross fell 0-3 to Northeastern, and Bucknell lost to JMU 2-3. Boston U will play Ohio U, Saturday at 7 pm.  As far as future opponents go, App. State beat Towson 3-0, Monmouth beat Longwood 5-1, Providence lost to BC 1-2 and Syracuse needed overtime to beat Vermont 4-3.

Next up is Syracuse at 6pm on Monday. It should be available on ACCNX (ESPN)!

I thought Van der Geest had a goal in the second half, when the ball  hit the goalkeepers stick. Looking  from my vantage point the ball clearly made contact as it went in. It was called no goal by the official for a high ball. Isn’t it time for instant replay in PL field hockey?! I have been told it is not that expensive to install. All NCAA playoff games are instant replay as is all ACC and Big Ten games!! PL basketball has been using for it years!!

It’s finally arrived, the first game of the regular season as the Lafayette Leopards will be facing their first of 18 opponents of the regular season. VCU is not a regular opponent but they did meet them in the spring for a scrimmage at Towson. Unfortunately due to a shortage of available players for VCU, the scrimmage was only 8 v 8. It was the first scrimmage of the day, and in all honesty, it was hard to get a feeling for VCU. As I reported at the time, for what ever reason, Lafayette didn’t do as well, compared to their other scrimmages that day. But this is for real this time.

Stacey Bean, the VCU Head Coach arrived in January of 2017, charged with turning around a program that was not doing that well, and the results were dramatic. In 2016 they had a 7-11 record, but  Coach Bean was to immediately have an impact. In 2017 they had a 14-6 record, the first winning season in quite a while.  Bean was the head coach of St. Francis in Pa and Rhode Island.  She was also an assistant at Boston College. She  coached in Canada and compiled a 65-15-7 record.

Last year the Rams continued their success with a 12-7 campaign, and was in the championship A-10 game  with St Joseph’s, for the first time in the history of the. program. They lost 1-0 to St. Joes who was ranked number 10 in the country last season.  Good wins last year consisted of wins against Old Dominion, UMass, and Wake Forest. They lost in overtime to Patriot League opponents American ( two overtimes) and Bucknell 2-3.

VCU was led these last two years by Emily McNamara, who set the career and single season scoring record for her school and was deservedly named All- American. Last year she scored 27 of the 55 goals scored that year. VCU will have to find the replacement for those goals as she has graduated . However the second leading scorer number 15 Litiana Field and third leading scorer Maite Sturm number 17 will be in Easton for tomorrow’s contest, as will 5 or 6 of last year’s starters. They will arrive with 18 players which includes 7 first year players.

This game may may turn on defense, as VCU only allowed 1.53 goals per game last year and returns starting GK Sasha Elliot. Lafayette scored 39 goals and surrendered 2.89 goals per game. I believe the Lafayette defense is very strong this year and could very well the be the key factor in this year’s campaign. VCU took 317 shots last year while Lafayette took 239. Lafayette had 115 corners while VCU had 129.

I was able to watch their first game with Hofstra last year, and their strategy seemed to be to lift the ball downfield early, and even if it didn’t connect with an offensive player they then employed a high press for the majority of the game. They lost that game 2-3 in strokes, in a game, in my opinion, they should have won. In interviews, Stacey emphasizes intensity and pace as a coaching philosophy, and I see no reason for that to change tomorrow.

First games are intense affairs, and I am sure with their new players this team, like Lafayette,, will want to start the season off on the right foot. I looks to me that Lafayette has the deeper team with many returning players, and had a strong recruiting class as well. The keys will be,can Lafayette match the pace of this team, and put their balanced scoring attack in a position for success? Home field is a big advantage, although our usual support from the football team, will be missing since they will be on the road at William and Mary. Metzgar will also see the men’s soccer team busy at the same time. So we will need our hard core fans to be there as our 12th player.

Lisa Van der Geest, this years captain, and all American, in an interview, emphasized how well practices have been going along with the integration of the first year players. She said the team is excited to begin the season and it has been hard to contain that excitement, making sure it is all there for the 7 pm start on Friday.

This game will be played under the new rules, which include 4 fifteen minute quarters, and most coaches believe it will slow down substitutions. An interesting chess match tomorrow, as most first games are!!

LAFAYETTE TO PLAY 2 TOP 25 TEAMS IN FIRST FOUR GAMES

The Lafayette Leopards will have a chance to make a huge statement right from the beginning of the season. The top 25 preseason rankings have come out and Lafayette will play 2 teams ranked in the top 25 out of the 4 early games. Syracuse is ranked 18 and the Leopards will travel to upstate New York to meet them at 6 pm Monday September 2nd. Later on in the week our Maroon heroines will meet Liberty University, ranked number 20, at 12 pm in Lynchburg, Va. the following Sunday.  Earlier on Friday they will arrive at Lynchburg for a 7pm game with Appalachian State!! Of course, the opening home game will be with VCU on Friday August 30. That is the opening day for virtually all of division one.

Should the Leopards be successful in those four games it would be hard to argue they should not be listed in the top 25. This is a great opportunity. Lafayette has already played a preseason scrimmage with number 22 Albany. Of course, it must be first games first and later this week I will preview VCU. I have watched the first game VCU  had last year ( which they lost in strokes), and perhaps it might have clues as what the Leopards might expect on Friday.

Meanwhile the rest of the Patriot League begins their seasons with a group of competitive games. Colgate will play Central Michigan at 2pm, American hosts New Hampshire at 3pm, Bucknell hosts James Madison at 4 pm, Lehigh is at Rider at the same time, Holy Cross will host Northeastern at 6pm, and Boston University will be in Ohio playing Ohio at 7pm on the 31st. Ohio University beat Boston in last years NCAA first round!! Lafayette of course will host VCU at 7pm under the lights on August 30.

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Looking at the schedule, Lafayette will play 4 preseason top 25 games. The other two will be Boston University ranked 23 on Oct 5th and William and Mary ranked 25 on Oct 20th at home. I expect, given their schedule that American could be a candidate for national ranking should they prevail in their games. The game with American will be the last game in the regular season before the playoffs on Nov 2nd in DC.

FYI, the top five in the NFHCA poll are UNC, Maryland, Duke, UConn, and Princeton.