Magadan looks to pass against Mexico in the Pan Am Games
In the first game of the Pan Am Field Hockey Tournament, the US took a 5-0 win against Mexico. The first half was a back and forth affair as Mexico turned back several good chances by the US. The US had 9 penalty corners alone in the half. With three minutes left in the first half, midfielder Danielle Grega found the back of the net with a deflection to give the Red, White and Blue the 1-0 lead going into half time.
Coach Janneke Schopman must have had a lot to say to the team as they came out with renewed vigor and Amanda Magadan got on the scoreboard in the thirty fourth minute with a deflection off a Sharkey straight shot to right post, where Magadan dutifully put it in the cage for a 2-0 lead for the US.
Amanda deflects the ball for the score!!
This started a torrent of scoring when, after only 3 minutes having ticked off the clock, Lauren Moyer emerged out of a scramble in front of the cage to get the ball past the Mexican goalkeeper making it 3-0. One minute later Erin Matson made it 4-0 scoring off a rebound, initially delivered by a Hoffman drag flick during a corner. Matson, the inserter deftly lifted the ball for the score.
Two minutes later Ashley Hoffman finished the scoring after Mexico pushed a US player inside the circle, and the US was awarded a penalty stroke. This was the final score in a 5-0 dominating win for US.
Step one completed, and now on to Chile on Wednesday at one o’clock.
In an unusual Sunday afternoon release on go leopards and a concurrent video , Head Field Hockey Coach Jennifer Stone rounded out the incoming class for the fall. Previously on Twitter and followed on this blog six months ago a group of five was announced, Tara Hamilton from North Vancouver, Shea Balderson from Moorestown N.J, Hanna Lewis from Lebanon, Pa, Sydney Woolston from Berlin N.J., and Natalie Fuertsch from Pottstown,Pa. In her interview, she was obviously excited by her incoming class. Many have performed at various tournaments and camps since graduation. Tara Hamilton has already played with current Lafayette midfielder Audrey Sawers in the national under 21 Canadian tournament. Sydney Woolston has been seen at Spooky Nook the national training headquarters for the US Team and Hanna Lewis was singled out by Stone for her efforts at a camp this summer.
Left out in the initial announcement but known by those close to the team are two recruits from Europe who could be difference makers, Felcitas Hannes a 5’3″ forward from Cologne, Germany and Simone Hefting a 6′ defender from Den Bosch, Netherlands.
Last spring, captain Lisa Van der Geest mentioned the incoming class at the team banquet. Not only is the head coach excited about the incoming class but the current players are looking forward to the new class to replace a very talented senior class who graduated two months ago.
Simone Hefting played for HC Den Bosch her entire youth. They were champions of South Netherlands from 2012-2015. They won the Dutch outdoor championships in 2017 and repeated in 2018. Van der Geest, an all American last year described Simone to me this way. Gesturing with hand near her waist, Lisa opined, ” I am here.” Then moving her hand over her head, “Simone is here.” Not good news for Patriot League opponents!!! Our defense looks well in hand.
Felicitas Hannes
Felicitas Hannes played forward for Rot-Weiss Koeln and play in 10 German championship runs first being in the U12 division in 2012, She and her club won West German U18, and U19 indoor championships. Her talents are not limited to hockey as she tutored her peers in math and voluteered for a sport program for refugee children in Cologne. She will enjoy teaming up with our talented forward line once she arrives at Lafayette. And so will our fans.
We are down to a mere few weeks before our young women return to the Hill and Rappolt Field. This could be a fun season!!
Summer break is nearly over and the pages of summer work outs, the clinics and camps are slowly behind the Lafayette student athlete, and in less than a month, they will be returning to campus to begin the final preparation and rehearsals for the fall season. By this time next month, their first division one competition, in the form of a scrimmage will be upon them. About 85 percent of the seventy plus schools have already published their schedules, and they are beginning appear in publications like “Field Hockey Corner.”
But the campus itself is beginning to come alive. You can see small bands of athletes organizing for captain’s practices. The Football team will be the first to arrive and the start of their summer workouts might be more of a subtle change in routine, as you can already see larger and larger groups working out under the hot sun at Fisher Field.
For those of you thousands of miles away in Germany, Holland, and Vancouver it’s been very hot here in the US Northeast with temperatures reaching close to 100 degrees, I can only imagine the heat on the astro-turf surface. As parents and student athlete alike arrive in less than a month, they will see a campus in the midst of large changes.
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The new integrated science center is nearly completed, Just in time, as STEM offerings are being enhanced. The school will be offering a new BS in engineering which will complement the other more specific engineering offering. The new dorms have begun construction on Cattell Street. They will be ready for occupants in 2020. They will include a plethora of new retail shops on the bottom floor replacing the old worn out housing and retail space that has occupied the Hill for years.
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The freshman college population will well exceed 700 as the school advances to their short term target of 2900 students. In the coming years we will see additional changes and renovation to accommodate the new populations. On the list of renovations according to highly placed sources, will be the science building, Kunkel Hall, the student housing at Marquis, McKean, and others.
The college is also committed to change and improvements in the athletic department. Sherryta Freeman, now more than a year into her job as Athletic Director, is changing the face and resources of the department for a reinvigorated sports program. There is a new women’s Lacrosse Coach, and additional staff for the Men’s Lacrosse program as well as the women’s basketball program. There is a new administrator for compliance ,who I understand will also have some sports responsibilities.
I have also learned from high sources that a new fence surrounding the field hockey field is in the works, and upon inspection recently I see small flags on the outside where the fence will go. Upon arrival at Metzgar Fields the new construction of fences and welcoming signage finally makes Metzgar have the look of the beautiful campus Lafayette is. Also in the works are permanent bathrooms adjacent to the field hockey stands, which will bring comfort to our many fans. The timing is unclear but I am assured they are on the way.
We will welcome seven new families and they will learn quickly how the program is a family friendly activity. There is excitement always, and this season is no exception. The Patriot League is as competitive as ever and as we begin that schedule, Lafayette will be facing familiar coaching organizations, each with the goal of not only making it to the post season league playoffs but the NCAA national tournament.
There will be some new opponents and according to their already published schedules we will be seeing App State, and Monmouth among others for the first time in a while. There will also be the familiar names we have seen in the past according their schedules, Penn, Temple, Liberty, and Richmond have us on their websites. More about that in later posts. I plan to go over each Patriot League team later this summer and I eventually will have something to say about our out of conference games as they approach.
For me its been a long summer waiting. but its almost over!!
Head Coach of the Lafayette Leopards, Jennifer Stone, has annually organized two camps in early July to help young players develop their skills, and to improve team dynamics. The first of those camps is a camp devoted to individual skill development, and the second camp is a team camp. The camp instructors and demonstrators are the Lafayette coaching staff, and some of the current Lafayette players. This year there was an added opportunity for athletes preparing for the fall season. Stone invited two members of the USA Field Hockey team defender Julia Young and Midfielder Amanda Magadan to instruct. For those of you looking for a metaphorical comparison, it would be like two members of NFL champion New England Patriots giving instruction on how to play football.
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The two USA players are part of a young squad, that will be defending their title at the important July 26-August 11 Pan Am Games this summer in Lima Peru. As an olympic qualifier, the games have added significance. Both athletes have a list of honors too long for this blog. Amanda and Julia both graduated from college in 2017, Amanda from Lafayette, and Julia from UNC. Both were named all-Americans and first team all-conference. Both were members of the World Gold Cup semi-final teams in South Africa in 2017. That was after working their way up to the US Team through the various junior national teams. Amanda has 67 international caps, and Julia has 44 caps. Illustrating the youth of our national team, only 7 team members of the 27 listed on the roster have more caps.
I was able to have a short conversation with both of these athletes and posed a few questions to them:
What makes or defines an “elite athlete.?”
Both agreed elite athletes have to be able to put in the work, and prepare every day. In Amanda’s USA bio she quotes Emerson, ” What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside you.” In Julia’s bio she says, ” Hold yourself to a high standard and don’t stop raising the standard as you grow and get better.”
Can you spot a future US Team member early?
Both agreed, you can only see potential, but that potential has to be nurtured. Julia started playing futures in 7th grade in 2004, Amanda an excellent softball player, only began playing field hockey in 2009.
What is the one skill you practice everyday?
Again the two elite athletes agreed, as they almost said in unison “the right foot pass.” Now as a 25 year hockey dad, that was a new one, and it had to be explained to me. Since the stick is always in essence a ” right handed” instrument, the tendency is to step with the left foot when passing. Developing a right foot step can give you an advantage against a defender and a player can shield the ball from the defender.
How do we “grow the game.”
As a trustee for the US Field Hockey Foundation I was curious about their vision. Julia felt people need to hear more about the game, and there is a need for more publicity about Field Hockey to get people interested. Amanda pointed out the need for equipment for younger players to play, and cited that the team has been giving sticks to younger players to encourage them. That was symbolically demonstrated at the FIH game with Germany this year when before the game sticks were given away by the team.
Julia and Amanda demonstrate for campers
The rest of the day was filled with drills and Coach Stone organized stations around the field where individual skills were demonstrated and tried under the watchful eye of Julia, Amanda, Coach Stone and her staff.
The 30 or so campers were certainly advantaged to have the opportunity to learn skills that will used in their respective fall seasons.
I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak to these young women. This fall I will be expanding my writing beyond just Lafayette Field Hockey. I may start covering and attending other college games in the future, and I will certainly be covering the journey of the US Team in their quest for Olympic recognition.
Audrey Sawers and Tara Hamilton display their gold
As the earth makes it annual journey, so too our field hockey student athletes begin their annual preparation for the tasks at hand this fall. It’s a little more than a month away when our team will report for the challenges of preseason. Certainly circled will be the first scrimmage with Fairfield on August the 18th. For the first year teammates, it will be their first taste of Division One hockey as a Leopard. For the veterans, it will be the time of reconstruction and dedication for the challenges ahead. By accounts, this is a team that could be in the hunt. There are only 17 scheduled “obstacles” in the way and two playoff games during the chill of November.
Sidney Woolston at the Futures National Tournament at Spooky Nook
In fact, no team in a Division One environment is standing still, so the challenge is not one of passing a static opponent, but keeping up and surpassing those along the way. Aside from summer study, family and personal travel, we have had a chance to see and an occasional Leopard in action. Arguably, it’s seeing our newest Leopards in action that is the most interesting. Yesterday, I had a chance to see Sidney Woolston, a freshman defender/midfielder in a game at the Futures Championships at Spooky Nook. Sidney was playing on a New Jersey team ( London), and saw lots of crucial minutes in her first two games of the three day tournament. The weather was challenging ( it must have been over 100 degrees on the turf). They played under the old high school rules, and did not separate the game into four quarters, but played two long halves in a challenge to fitness as well as skill. The 5’7″ defender showed her potential to those of us on the sidelines and I was to get several action shots for my camera.
Meanwhile, 3000 miles away Tara Hamilton was to join one of our key leaders, Audrey Sawers in a Tournament at their club in Western Canada. They led their team to the gold medal. I have no report yet as to any scoring by either athlete. But their working together might portend a combination this fall. Audrey of course earned her first caps in Ireland playing for the Canadian under 21 team in Ireland. ( cheered on by her Lafayette teammates)
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We all know about Grace Angelella and Molly McAndrew’s play after bering selected for the 2019 Young Women’s National Championship. Molly was reported to score a nifty goal in her final game of the tournament. I hope that will be a warm up for the fall season.
Meanwhile, I hear the rest of team is playing pick up games once a week at Rappolt, and I am sure they have been following Coach Stone’s fitness regimen. The first day of preseason is no time to begin getting fit. I expect all will arrive ready to learn and play.
In a couple of weeks camps will begin at Lafayette and it will give Coach Stone and her staff a chance to evaluate where the team is, as perhaps some freshmen and veterans participate or teach at the camp. There will be additional instruction from Lafayette alumna and national team player, Amanda Magadan, who will be joined by US teammate Julia Young. Traditionally, our first year players are in plentiful supply at the individual camp.
Jenn Delongis snags the ball against Maryland
No doubt league rivals are getting ready as well, as will our out of conference foes. We can’t be more excited by the potential of the team this year, because there is no doubt about the talent. No doubt the skill is there to return to the PL tournament and perhaps make that next step to be champions and play in the NCAA tournament. Championships are won in the off in the season as the saying goes. A little more than 30 days and counting….
Angelella gets ready in position on the offensive corner
What a better time than Father’s Day weekend for hockey dad’s and mom’s to see their daughters compete in an all-star hockey format. There are 138 elite athletes competing for a chance to play for the United States on one of its high level national teams. There are players from a variety of Division one teams from across the nation. Sprinkled throughout the stands were parents, siblings, teammates and friends wearing a mixture of tee shirts, hats and tops from a plethora of schools. Lafayette was privileged to have two of its own on the turf, Junior Grace Angelella and sophomore Molly McAndrew.
Forgetting previous honors or affiliations all were equal as they competed on 8 teams in a 20 game tournament. Forgetting the purpose of the event, the hockey was entertaining and played at high level. All the games were played under the new rules for the fall collegiate season, and US Field Hockey added one additional test. Coaches were not allowed to coach in the first quarter each game, while the players were encouraged to solve their own hockey problems on the field.
Angelella ready to recieve the ball
We traveled to Spooky Nook, the home of US Field Hockey, Friday and Saturday, seeing both Leopards perform a full game each day. Originally, McAndrew and Angelella were to play on the same teams, but Molly was moved to the “Pride” team at the last minute because they were short players. Friday, the two teams played at the same time so watching both in its entirety was impossible. Therefore we opted to watch Grace’s team,”Freedom” on Friday and Molly’s team Pride on Saturday.
Freedom and the Patriots put on a display of intensity in the Friday match. They played at a skill level, which belied the fact the teams had one practice together that morning. Passing was especially accurate, and they moved the ball up and down the field with ease. Grace Angelella at mid-field fit right in. She was involved in a lot of play from her starting midfield position and became a key contributor, using her considerable talents. Both teams had a hard time finishing, but I thought Freedom had the better of the action when Taylor Blood ( yes, from Patriot League Boston University) connected on an off-target insert during a corner with seven minutes remaining giving Freedom the 1-0 win. On the second day, while we concentrated on Molly’s game with Pride, Freedom got their second win on a 3-1 victory over team Courage. They currently lead Pool A with six points and a goal differential of 3.
Molly McAndrews shows classic form
Molly McAndrew meanwhile met on Friday with the US under 19 squad and lost 4-1 in their first game, but from our point of view it reenergized as we watched them win the second game played on Saturday by a 3-2 margin. Molly saw lots of action as she started in her customary attacking position. Pride seemed to dominate play for each of the 4 Quarters. Dream ( their opponent) scored first in the second quarter and Pride responded by hitting the post twice. It took another quarter to even things up. It was in the fourth quarter when things were opened up on a penalty corner early in the fourth quarter. A third goal was to ensure the win with a rebounded shot. Dream was to get within one as they connected late in the game on a penalty corner of their own to end the scoring, giving Pride the win and third place based on goal differential as of Saturday night.
McAndrews recieves the ball on the run
The weather was perfect for field hockey with a mixture of sun and a cool westerly breeze. Today, on Father’s Day will no doubt see the stands filled with justifiably proud”field hockey Dads.” It looks like Tuesday, games will be live streamed for those of you who would like to watch.
Some familiar fans expressing obvious pride from the sidelines. (Marty and Sue McAndrews)
Now that graduation has passed and final exams are done, our favorite Leopards have spread to destinations all over the world. There is exploration of all kinds going on. Whether it be athletic, academic or an internship to sharpen skills and provide contacts for eventual employment, I am sure our athletes will find the skills of teamwork, time management, perseverance and leadership valuable commodities to their eventual employers in the future.
Their experiences this summer will be varied, but will no doubt enhance their multiple resumes. We have already seen Audrey Sawers earn her first international caps in Ireland, witnessed by her friends and teammates in Dublin, Liza Welch who was traveling, and Sophie Carr who lives in Ireland. I got an email from Sue Kullby, Greta is studying in Germany, and she attached a picture of Greta with her new teammate Lici. Greta also hopes to contact Lisa Van der Geest in Holland and Ana Steps in Germany before her return to the states.
There are a number of Leopards at school doing research with their professors, one I hear is involved with an NIH a research grant. Others are taking courses to enhance their education at Lafayette, and try new things. However, Hockey remains on their minds. Tomorrow, my wife and I will take a drive out to Spooky Nook to watch Grace Angelella and Molly McAndrews participate in the Young Women’s National Championships.
I understand members of the team regularly get together for informal captains practices to keep their skills sharp. Head Coach Jennifer Stone no doubt has given them a fitness regimen to follow, and I am sure they all have early August in mind, as they rigorously follow its carefully prescribed exercises.
It is 63 days until the first scrimmage and we are all anxiously awaiting!! Go PARDS
Sophomore Grace Angelella reaches for the interception
Rising Junior Grace Angelella and rising sophomore Molly McAndrews are set to travel to the “Nook” for a chance to be selected to the US U21 team, US Women’s National Development Squad or the US Women’s National Team Trial. Phil Edwards, Senior Manager of Junior High Performance is quoted:
Looking at the caliber of players selected, the level of coaches who will be there to support them and the balance of the teams it promises to be an excellent tournament!!
The 144 selected elite athletes from across the United States will begin play on June 14 and play everyday until the final games Tuesday June 18. They will be playing and training at the national training headquarters at Spooky Nook in Lancaster, Pa. The selectees will be split into 8 teams, coached by a variety of college coaches from around the country. The eight teams form two pools. and based on the their records they will play final games on Monday and Tuesday.
Molly McAndrews closes in on a Quaker
Both Leopards, Grace and Molly will play on the same team, Freedom, coached by Richmond Head Coach Jamie Montgomery and asst UNC coach Mark Atherton. They will be joined by fellow Patriot League opponent Taylor Blood from Boston University. The rest of the team is populated with stars from colleges and universities from across the United States including the NCAA tournament final two competitors, UNC and Maryland. They will also have players, from nationally ranked teams such as St.Joes, Virginia, UConn, Rutgers, Ohio University, and Delaware. It is also populated by Ivy Leaguer Columbia and out of conference Lafayette competitor Drexel.
Grace Angelella speeds down the sideline
Each team will have a practice under the Dome some time between 11 am and 2pm on Friday and games will begin at 3pm. Freedom, Molly and Grace’s’team will ply outdoors at 3pm against the Patriots that same day. Saturday, they will play at 11 am, on the outdoor turf against Courage, and Sunday, they will be third on the outdoor turf against Honor at 3 pm. Monday and Tuesday game schedule will depend on the outcome during the previous two days.
All games are free for spectators for the entire tournament. I will be there for several of the games and will certainly report on the outcome via this blog. It is less than two months before preseason begins and this is a great time for hockey fans to get a feel for the fall season approaching. Best of Luck to our two Leopards!!
Audrey Sawers started every game with the Canadian U21 team this weekend as the team earned a third place medal in the friendly team tournament. Audrey earned her place on the team last year being observed by Canadian National team coaches in an all-nation tournament last summer.
This week end she played defense for her nation’s team who had two shut outs. They earned their third place finish after getting a goal in the 36 th minute on a penalty corner. The defense stepped from there on to deny their opponent, Scotland,a chance to tie it up.
While at Lafayette she played the midfield. She has started every game of her career at Lafayette after a distinguished career in high school. She will certainly be a key component in Lafayette’s NCAA division one fall campaign, as they compete in the Patriot League and hope for that mandatory spot in the NCAA national tournament.
Supported along the way she has received encouragement from her teammates at home and in the stands in Dublin. We are anticipating her return to Rappolt Field and helping her teammates to challenge for the Patriot League championship this fall.
Audrey greets her teammates Liza Welch and Sophie Carr as they arrive to encourage her in Dublin
USA Field Hockey announced the athletes who have been selected to compete in the Young Women’s National Championships. This competition is used to select players for the various US National teams. It is a group of 144 elite female field hockey athletes which includes current under 19 team members. During the spring, select athletes tried out and trained at various centers around the country. The 144 athletes will have an opportunity to be selected to the 2020 under 21 team, the US National Development Team, or a trial for the U.S Women’s National Team. The five days of competition will be at Spook Nook from June 14-18.
Grace Angelella and Molly McAndrew Selected
Two players from Lafayette have been asked to participate. Rising Junior Grace Angelella and rising Sophomore Molly McAndrews have been selected to this elite group. Both have participated in last year’s event, so both will have an advantage of having been there before.
Both teammates are dangerous once they get in or near the circle. Grace has had two outstanding years, missing only 1 game during that period. She is a very good distributor and has a good nose for the goal. During her freshman year she tied for the lead in team scoring with five goals. In her sophomore season she scored four goals from the midfield position making key goals against Lehigh and Villanova. She is an intense competitor and will always be found in a position to make an impact.
Molly McAndrews fights for the ball
Molly McAndrews was no less spectacular in her first season in Division one field hockey. She was named to the All-Patriot League first team as well as the rookie of the year in the league. She scored seven goals and was the difference maker on a number of occasions, scoring a pair of goals in the win against American, and had the overtime goal against Lehigh. She was named rookie of the week 3 times and offensive player of the week once. She seemed to get better as the season progressed showing she has a deadly shot once in the circle.
The Patriot League had a total of 7 selected for the tournament off their current roster. Boston had 3 of the six ( Kiley Gallagher, Elizabeth Ryan and Casey Thompson), Lafayette had 2, Bucknell had 1 ( GK Olivia Harris), and American had 1 (Josie Formica).
This is another indication that Lafayette should field a very good team this fall. GO PARDS.
Lafayette College Field Hockey 