Nov. 12, 2002

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - With 19 consecutive victories and a Patriot League Championship in hand, the Lafayette field hockey team held steady at No. 18 in this week's National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll released on Tuesday. The Leopards (19-2) garnered 86 points in the poll.

The rankings come on the heels of the Leopards' Patriot League Championship weekend, where they defeated Bucknell, 8-1, in the semifinals and then downed Holy Cross, 2-1, in the title tilt. The victory marks the Leopards' third title in the nine-year history of the Patriot League Tournament and Lafayette's seventh Patriot League championship in the conference's 13th season.

Senior Megan Monahan, the two-time Offensive Player of the Year in the league, was named Tournament MVP after tying the tournament record of eight points. With three postseason goals, Monahan also tied the school and conference mark for goals in a season with 33.

Lafayette takes on NorPac champion California in a CAA Play-In game today at 2 p.m. The winner of the game will earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.