November is upon us, and fall sports at every level are transitioning into playoff mode. While high school programs are kicking off the PIAA State Championships, teams at the college level are beginning conference playoffs.
The Lehigh Valley is home to six NCAA field hockey teams: four at the Division III level and two at the Division I level. The rosters of all four DIII teams are flooded with Lehigh Valley products, while the two DI programs’ rosters boast quite a few Pennsylvania products among many international recruits. If you recall me mentioning in an earlier blog post this fall, the sport is much more popular and commonly played throughout Europe, with many players having played since childhood, making them some of the top prospects for NCAA DI coaches.
Some of these programs are gearing up for their respective conference playoffs, while others (those who failed to qualify for the postseason) have just wrapped up their regular seasons and are transitioning to the off-season.
Let’s see how we got here.
Division III Programs:
Cedar Crest College
The Falcons ended their season with a 5-13 overall record, failing to qualify for the postseason after going 1-4 in the United East Conference.
The program is home to four Lehigh Valley natives, including the co-team leader in points, junior forward Avery Daku (5 goals, 3 assists), who went to highschool at Catasaqua, Courtney Gibbons, a sophomore defender out of Parkland (17 games started), Olivia Horninger, a junior midfielder from Northern Lehigh (3G), and sophomore goalkeeper, Shelby Heater from Lehighton (2.78 goals against average, 79.8% save percentage, 3 shutouts).
DeSales University
The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 9-9 overall record and a 5-2 record in the Middle Atlantic Freedom Conference. DeSales is the #3 seed in the playoff tournament and will take on #2 seed Stevens in the first round on Wednesday, 11/6.
Remarkably, ten players on the DeSales roster come from the Lehigh Valley, including sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Schlussmann from Stroudsburg (2.80 goals-against-average, 74.9% save percentage, 2 shutouts), senior midfielder Maddie Trocki from Whitehall, who is the team leader in points (12G, 7A), junior midfielder/defender Nikki Chiaradia from Moravian Academy (3G, 4A), junior forward Brooke Sodl from Bethlehem Catholic (3G, 2A), sophomore midfielder/defender Megan McLain from Pocono Mountain East (3G), junior forward Brynn Ballet from Northwestern Lehigh (1G, 1A), junior midfielder Maddie Siegfried from Northampton (7 games played), junior midfielder/defender Morgan Benner from Southern Lehigh (1G, 1A), junior midfielder/defender, Angelina Day from Palisades (2G), and senior defender Paige Busch from Moravian Academy (17 games started).
Moravian University
The Greyhounds went 7-10 overall and 5-4 in the Landmark Conference during the regular season.
Moravian entered the playoffs ranked #4, taking on #5 Juniata College in the Landmark Conference Tournament First Round. The teams tied 1-1 in regulation and after two sudden death, 7 vs. 7 overtime periods went by without either team scoring, the game advanced to a shootout (which is similar to a shootout in ice hockey with one attacking player versus the other team’s goalkeeper). The Greyhounds ultimately won the shootout 3-2.
“I am extremely proud of this group,” said head coach Sarah Dalrymple.
“Despite a challenging start, the team found its rhythm in October, displaying resilience and determination. The leadership of our seniors has been significant, guiding the team through adversity to the excitement of a shootout victory in the first round of the playoffs.”
The Greyhounds will play in the Landmark Conference Tournament Semifinal against #1 seeded Susquehanna University on Wednesday, 11/6.
The Greyhound roster features four players out of the Lehigh Valley, including the team leader in goals and points, Gia Ambrosino from Easton (13G, 3A). Joining Ambrosino is senior forward Carolina Catilao-Sanchez from Parkland (18 games started), Sophia Calantino, a freshman forward from Bangor (16 games played, 6 games started), and Shawna Mamrak, a freshman forward from Pen Argyl (5 games played).
Muhlenburg College
The Mules ended the season with a 7-10 overall record and going 2-8 in the Centennial Conference. They did not qualify for the playoffs.
Sophomore defender Madison Horvath, a Freedom High School product, appeared in 12 games for Muhlenburg, starting four.
Division I Programs:
Lehigh University
The Mountain Hawks went 7-10 overall and 2-4 in Patriot League play, failing to advance to the playoffs.
The Lehigh roster features eight players from Pennsylvania and three international players, hailing from Canada and the Netherlands.
Lafayette College
The Leopards ended the regular season with a 12-6 overall record (notably knocking off #20 ranked Temple University) and going 5-1 in the Patriot League. Their sole league loss came in double overtime to American University, who went undefeated in Patriot League play and will host the playoffs as the #1 seed.
Lafayette advanced to playoffs as the #2 seed. They will play third-seeded Bucknell on Thursday, 11/7.
The Leopard’s roster has five players from Pennsylvania and 10 international players from the likes of Germany, Netherlands, England, Canada, Argentina, and New Zealand.
Lafayette head coach Jennifer Stone recorded her 100th career victory this season.
“It’s a celebration of the success of the program,” said Stone.
Stone said the team remains focused on the process as they move into post-season play: “One step at a time. Bucknell is a fierce opponent, but we also believe in ourselves as a group.”
The eventual Patriot League champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament.
Lafayette last won the Patriot League championship in 2012, advancing to the NCAA Division I Tournament on a at-large bid, the only at-large bid earned by a Patriot League school in league history.
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