May 17, 2011

2011 Tentative Schedule

EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette field hockey head coach Andrew Griffiths has announced that rising seniors Carolyn Cabrey and Colleen McGowan will join juniors Deanna DiCroce and Emily Valeo as the team captains for the 2011 season.

"It is unusual to have four captains, but they each bring different leadership qualities to the field and it will allow the leadership group to reach all areas," said Griffiths. "These four represent our returning group well for the upcoming season, and the future looks positive with our strong incoming players."

Griffiths also announce the 2011 schedule that is highlighted with seven games against Top 20 teams from last season, including one of last year's NCAA Finalists, the University of North Carolina.

"We feel that we are at a point in our team development where we can compete with the top programs," Griffiths said. "We look forward to the challenges and hope it will prepare us to play our best in Patriot League competition."

The Leopards open at Rappolt Field on August 28 against James Madison University. They will hit the road for a pair of games at Harvard against Northeastern and Harvard before returning home to host Temple.

Lafayette will play three straight on the road against UNC (Sept. 11), Penn (Sept. 14) and Drexel (Sept. 16) and come back to Easton to face Vermont and Albany to close out September.

On Oct. 1, Lafayette begins Patriot League play at Colgate followed by a home game against Quinnipiac the next day.

The Leopards will head to Bucknell on Oct. 8 and take on Big-10 foe Penn State on Oct. 11. Lafayette will play back-to-back games against Holy Cross on Oct. 15 in Easton and will go to Rutgers the following day.

The rivalry against Lehigh will be held in Easton on Oct. 22 followed by a home game against Columbia on Oct. 25.

Lafayette closes the regular season and Patriot League play against the defending champs, American, on Oct. 29.