By Sarah Frohnapfel
Photo Courtesy of Hanna Sotiropoulos
It’s been close, but no cigar for Lafayette Field Hockey in the past five Patriot League Tournaments, but the team believes this is the year that they can finally get over the hump.
The Lafayette Leopards (9-8, 4-1) enter the Patriot League Tournament with a semifinals match against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (6-12, 3-2) at 2:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
“For the past three years, we have been in this position and came home with no ring. It’s been extremely frustrating,” said Colleen McGowan ‘12, a key part of the Leopard squads that lost in the championship the last two seasons, and the semifinals in 2008. “I really believe this year will be different.”
The tournament begins this afternoon against Lehigh, who Lafayette defeated 4-0 just three weeks ago. The Leopards won’t be taking the Mountain Hawks lightly.
“We have to focus on Lehigh first before even thinking about the championship. Any team can win on any given day, and we can’t allow an upset,” midfielder Dana Thomas ‘14 said. “This is especially true because of the rivalry between us and Lehigh; they would love to take us out.”
Lafayette surrendered the rights to home-field after a 3-1 loss to American on Sunday. The score was tied with the second half winding down, but the Eagles tacked on two late goals to secure the victory and home-field advantage.
Defender Emily Valeo ‘13 scored the lone Lafayette goal of the day. The Leopards were outshot 13-5 and goalkeeper Jessica Deutsch ‘15 recorded eight saves.
Prior to the Lafayette-Lehigh match, the top-seeded American Eagles (9-7, 4-1) will take on the No. 4 Bucknell Bison (7-11, 3-2). Two weeks ago, Bucknell handed American its first league loss since 2009, when the Leopards defeated the Eagles in double-overtime at Rappolt Field.
The Leopards have reached the tournament the past five seasons, including the four seasons since Head Coach Andrew Griffiths took over. The American Eagles, however, have dominated the Patriot League Tournament, winning the past eight championships.
“Based on our performances this year and recent games, I feel we have a good opportunity to win the Patriot League Tournament this year,” Griffiths said. “We hope to get the opportunity to meet American again if we can get past Lehigh in the semi-final.”
“I think we are more prepared than we have been in the past,” McGowan said. “We just have to go in with confidence in our preparation and have the mentality that we will come out with the championship.”
The Eagles defeated the Leopards 6-2 in the 2010 finals, but lost seven seniors and two All-Americans after the 2010 season. “They are beatable this year,” forward Hanna Sotiropoulos ‘14 said. “We are fully prepared to take them on again and beat them.”
The Leopards, however, aren’t looking past the semifinal match against the rival Mountain Hawks.
“Our sights are set on winning the next two games,” Griffiths said. “This is it.”
