The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

Losing streak snapped

Hanna Sotiropoulos ‘14  fights for possession of the ball against Holy Cross.
Hanna Sotiropoulos ‘14 fights for possession of the ball against Holy Cross.
Photos by Ally Hill ‘15 |Photo Editor
Lafayette field hockey snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating woeful Holy Cross (4-10 overall, 0-4 Patriot League) on Saturday in shutout fashion. The win comes before a crucial match up with Colgate tomorrow.

Haley Keenan ‘14 scored unassisted just nine minutes into the game for the first of four Lafayette goals. Lafayette (5-9, 2-2 PL) was in control for the first half but shined in the second. Juniors Brittany Blass and Kelsey Mead executed a penalty corner play when Mead inserted to Blass, whose shot deflected perfectly back of Mead’s stick into the goal. It was Mead’s third goal of the season.

Ten minutes later, Jenna Seybert ‘15 scored off consecutive passes from Mead and Kirby Szalkowski ‘16. For good measure, senior Kristen Heaney scored off a one-on-one fast break against the Crusaders’ goalkeeper. Heaney carried the ball from midfield down the right side and lifted it past the goalkeeper.

“It felt good to finally get a win,” forward Hanna Sotiropoulos ‘14 said. “It’d been awhile and we were all excited to be playing at home again.”

Adding to that excitement was the festivities of senior day. Prior to the opening faceoff, the seven seniors – Keenan, Sotiropoulos, Heaney, Aimee Smith, Kelsey Gula, Carly O’Loughlin and Dana Thomas – were honored during a ceremony involving their families and the coaching staff.

“It’s so sad to think that the seniors won’t be here next year,” forward Katie Birle ‘16 said. “They make up so much of our team and they’ve done such a great job at helping us on and off the field.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better four years,” Thomas said. “We’ve been through the highest highs and the lowest lows and we’ve been able to fight through it all because of and for each other.”

Lafayette outshot Holy Cross 10-2 and held a 7-2 advantage in corners. Goalie Jessica Deutsch ‘15 earned her second shutout of the season. Freshman goalie Katelyn Arnold entered the game with five minutes left, earning her first playing time of the season.

Tomorrow, Lafayette will play another league game against Colgate at noon before facing Temple on Sunday at 2 p.m. If Lafayette is able to defeat Colgate, it will clinch a spot in the Patriot League tournament. If Colgate wins, Lafayette would need to defeat Boston University next week and have Holy Cross defeat Colgate.

A chance for a three-peat is on the line. How will Lafayette respond?

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