Tag: Patriot League

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let the games begin!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coach Jeremy Cook returns for his 10th season with a lot experienced players on the field. He lost 5 seniors but has recruited 6 new faces to refill his roster. However, he returns with the core of last year’s team intact. Seniors are always missed but having your top scorers including your goalie back for an encore has got to be considered a plus. Nicole Rupnik, now a junior was tied for second in goals during patriot league games. Emily Finn now the senior goal keeper had a league leading 82 percent save percentage last year. Stephanie Dressler with 41 shots during the regular season and 5 goals was second on the team in offensive stats and is  now part of the strong senior class. Britany Willwerth now a sophomore also returns and was third third leading offensive stat producer.

Overall in the League, Bucknell was third in goals scored  with 10 and second in goals against allowing only 5 goals agains Patriot League foes. They had 90 shots in Patriot play  and led the league in penalty corners with 56.

The Bison play a very competitive out of conference schedule, last year meeting  Princeton, Albany, and Syracuse, playing all but Princeton tough They were even in home games last year but had their closest losses against American, Syracuse, and Boston establishing a strong home defense. They beat Lafayette 3-0 in Lewisburg in a must win game for both sides.

This year looks a little easier in out of conference games however,  as they are playing Penn State at home and Maryland in College Park after a game in DC with American. They will also meet perennial power Syracuse in Syracuse on September 2. Eight of their 18 games will be at home. There is a sampling of Ivy League teams with Cornell, and Yale on the schedule as away games.

Goals for this year will include increasing their scoring, and maintaining their strong defensive posture, which all seems in reach. Bucknell traveled to the Netherlands this spring which has given them extra practice time and should be beneficial  to get them off to a strong start.

Bucknell and Lafayette will meet on Friday the 13th in October at 7 pm under the lights. Both teams always seem to meet in crucial games, this will be no exception.

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Meanwhile Amanda Magadan, who graduated from Lafayette last June makes a start for the US Team against India in South Africa yesterday.

The Boston University Terriers went to the recruit well to replenish their team, as they lost 8  seniors to graduation, including seniors Amanda Cassera, Hester Van der Laan, and Taylor Blood, who were major contributors. They also lost a senior GK in Cammey Jensen whose  league Goal Keeping stats (save pct .50) were not impressive until you consider a team defense that allowed only 4 goals in all patriot league games ( a .67 goals against average).  Boston took 114 shots against Patrtiot League opponents during the regular season, and scored 22 goals. However 17 of those goals were scored against Colgate (9), Holy Cross (3) and Lehigh (5). Amanda Cassera accounted for 18 shots and 4 goals as their most prolific Patriot League scorer.

Returning player Kara Enoch (9 pts) will figure to be a key returnee, as well Allie Renzi, who seems to find the back of the cage in important games for Coach Sally Star, who I believe is entering an amazing 37th year as Head Coach of the Terriers. Star will suit up 21 players as of this writing, with the help of 9 shinny new freshman recruits.  For most teams, that would raise red flags, but Starr has used her recruiting talents to plug some important holes. Most notably, she recruited a freshman goalie, Millie Baker, from Australia, who looks impressive as an older first year freshman with a resume of solid club experience. In addition,  she has another 19 year old freshman  from Perth, Shannon Ma, who will see action in the field no doubt. It is not unusual for US college teams to have older students, who may have college experience in foreign countries. The NCAA allows them to enter US Colleges with freshman status.

Given her personnel situation Starr will be very busy getting ready for the season as Patriot League games will start earlier this year. Their first Patriot League league game will be in Boston against Lafayette on September 23rd. This will be preceded by three away games at Albany, UMass, and UConn.  The terrier schedule is loaded with 6 NCAA tournament teams and has the usual very competitive out of conference schedule. That game on the 23rd will certainly be circled by both the Leopards and the Terriers, anxious to get a leg up on a league tournament spot awarded to the top four teams.

The game may have special significance as Boston will be looking for payback for their 2-1 loss to the Leopards last year in a shootout. Both coaches will have their teams ready for a battle.

Team bright and ready to welcome campers

Sign ins and welcome

One could say that today began the 2017 season for Lafayette Field Hockey. Every year Coach Stone and her staff along with a faculty of top notch players from the US and Overseas  arrive in Easton to begin a two week series of camps. The first of the these camps under the banner of the Total Hockey Field Hockey Camp began today at 12 noon. This camp is run from July 6-8 totally devoted to sharpening individual skills. The current Lafayette Field Hockey team is also in attendance as camp teachers and counselors. The benefit for these young players is to get a taste of division one coaching and the experience of living on campus and playing with other players from across the region and country. They will even get a shot at playing against the current Lafayette squad and instructors in challenge matches in the evening. For rabid fans like me it was my first chance to see many of our first year players on their new home turf.

Sprinting is fun for campers

Lola Dada practices kick save

Grace Angelella shows her speed

I could already see some team bonding as the recruits ( both arriving this fall and some who have already shown a keen interest in Lafayette in the future)  drilled together, displaying their talents for their new teammates and coaches alike. ( And I suppose for rabid fans like me.) My conclusions……this is a talented group set to arrive on  August 8. I saw speed, stick skills, and “coachability,” as they went through their drills. As an associated person in NCAA parlance, I was unable to interview or welcome any of the five first year players in attendance, but I was able to observe their obvious talent from a distance.

The three Lafayette staff coaches, Jennifer Stone, Sarah Dalrymple, and Emily Janis seemed pleased with what they  saw in the first three hour session. So did I.

After registration between 10:30 and 12, and after a group meeting the approximately 50 athletes boarded a bus to be transported to Rappolt Field which was being sprayed using its automated water system in preparation for the afternoon. The cloudy skies were a blessing as the recent hot spell on the east coast had abated and the athletes could really perform without the disadvantage of excessive heat. They broke into groups with the field players breaking off from the goalkeepers as each unit began practicing  basic skills under the watchful eye of the camp instructors.

At the end of the first session they boarded a bus to be chauffeured to campus where they will be able to sample the meals at the Farinon Meal Court at 4;30 and  prepare for team 11 v 11 games scheduled for 6;15-9:15. At 9:15 the lights are turned on for the first challenge games, Staff vs Campers. They will board a bus back to campus at 9:45 and will have chance to visit the campus store before a room check at 10:30.

Our intrepid campers will rise at 7 am tomorrow and after a hearty breakfast transportation is ready to take everyone to the field in time for speed and agility training at 9 am. At 9;30 it’s skill development again before departing for lunch. At 1:15 a one hour group session is scheduled with the sports psychologist before training session again at 2:45. A video session is schedule for 4:30 before the evening games begin at 6;15.

Saturday ends the session with final games scheduled for 9-11 in a 7 v7 format . It is a full plate but only a warm up for the season for these high school stars and for five of our seven recruits, Eva Kaplan, Grace Angelella, Greta Kullby, Sophie Carr and Lola Dada. Anna Steps from Germany and Audrey Sawers from British Columbia  will be there on Aug 8.

For me, this was the beginning of the season as some of the Lafayette class of 2021 has had their first taste of Leopard Field Hockey.

Next up, the continuation of the Patriot League with review of  Boston University.