Oct. 29, 2002

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - It has taken 15 wins over a two-month span for the Lafayette field hockey team to break into the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Top 20, but the Leopards finally received enough votes to come in at No. 19 nationally.

The team has been receiving votes for the past five weeks, and was on the verge of sneaking in the 20th slot the last two weeks before Tuesday's announcement by the NFHCA.

A 3-2 double-overtime victory on Oct. 15 over Delaware, a program that has been in and out of the national top 20, and decisive victories over Colgate and Rutgers impressed the voters enough to boost the Leopards (15-2, 5-0) into the rankings.

Lafayette senior Megan Monahan's steady rise up the individual offensive rankings may have also attracted voters' attention. Monahan is now leading the nation in goals scored (24), and her 58 points stands second in the nation.

With two games remaining on its schedule, Lafayette has clinched first place in the Patriot League and the right to host the Patriot League Tournament scheduled for Nov. 8-9.

Lafayette wraps up its regular season home schedule on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Albany.