EASTON, Pa. - There's a sense of optimism surrounding the Lafayette field hockey program heading into a 2018 season that kicks off on Friday at Rappolt Field.

The Leopards return a number of key pieces and have injected a talented freshman class into a team that looks to return to the Patriot League Tournament in November. To make that aspiration a reality, head coach Jennifer Stone says, Lafayette has to do a better job of turning opportunities into outcomes.

"We outshot and out-cornered the majority of our opponents last year, but we just couldn't turn those into goals. I think we're a step closer and I can see us getting better in those areas," the sixth-year head coach said. "Our ability to possess the ball and move it forward is quite good. We just have to be better at turning circle entries into outcomes (shots on goal, goals or corners) versus turnovers."

Despite graduating a talented class this past spring, Lafayette brings back two of its top-three goal scorers in sophomores Grace Angelella and Anna Steps. The culture of leadership in this group, though, is what really stands out and could go a long way in determining on-field success in 2018.

"The leadership within the team is quite strong and reflective through every player on our roster," Stone said. "Our three captains [Lisa van der Geest, Delahanty and Rachel Bird] were selected and identified by their peers, so they obviously have a good grasp of the group and will be able to lead us in a forward direction this fall. In addition to that, our leadership group as whole, not just the captains, is really helping to drive our program. That adds much more strength to where we can go."

The Leopards will host Fairfield at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in their first 2018 regular season test. A full position-by-position breakdown of the team is available below.

FORWARDS

While losing Ellen Colbourne '18 and Rosie Shanks '18 would seem to leave the Leopards' forward group in rebuild mode, Lafayette is confident in a returning group that brings a variety of ways to score to the table. Junior Caroline Turnbull has moved up from the midfield to provide a powerful force on the attacking line, while Welch is playing the best hockey of her career and will look to score goals with a deadly backhand. Additionally, freshman Molly McAndrew has impressed immediately and will be a scoring option right away.

"Caroline will have an impact on both the offensive and defensive sides of the attacking line, and has a good understanding of the run of play, where and when to make her move," said Stone. "Liza will be an outside striker for us and has had a huge jump in play from where she was when she came in. Molly has  put herself in a position to be relied upon to score. She wants the ball and is a natural scorer."

Sliding into the more playmaking roles on the forward unit will be returning sophomores Sam Di Maio and Grace Angelella, and senior Kristen Taylor.

"Sam is solid and creates height really well," Stone added. "She, along with Grace and Kristen, will likely play an auxiliary role, setting up plays in an attacking central midfield-type position."

Although she'll miss the season recovering from an ACL injury, sophomore Sophie Carr, who was slated to make an impact up front, has made her presence felt in a different way, providing leadership and influence from the sidelines throughout the preseason.

"Sophie is huge for us as a team and probably one of the most influential people I've ever coached," Stone said. "She thinks about the team every single time before herself and is a really significant piece of our program because of that."

Freshman Alix Talkow is the only other rostered forward for the Maroon and White, and will compete for time as she moves through her rookie campaign.

MIDFIELDERS

Everything in the midfield this season will run through Delahanty and Steps as the Leopards will count on their distribution from the screen positions to set up their forward attack. Steps tied for the team lead with five goals last season, mostly as a pivotal member of the corner unit, while Delahanty added a score as more of a two-way player throughout the field.

"We can play the ball into both Theresa and Anna because they're really good under pressure, feeling it and moving the ball away with a good first touch," Stone said. "We can play into them in crowded places to then play out into space. They've both made really significant strides."

Much of Delahanty's improvement from last season to the upcoming campaign can be attributed to her play with the national team over the past year. The senior was selected to the U.S. Senior Women's National Indoor Team in May and competed in the Young Women's National Championship at the end of June, along with teammates Sarah Park and Liza Welch.

Steps, a staple at left back for the Leopards a season ago, has moved into the midfield with sophomore Audrey Sawers taking over on the back line. A prototypical central midfielder, she won't have the ball on her stick for long as she looks to distribute to streaking outside backs or midfielders on the attack.

Occupying those flanking roles will likely be senior Adriana Pero, juniors Cam Costello and Jenn DeLongis, and freshman Mary Gould. Also looking to make an impact will be sophomores Greta Kullby and Eva Kaplan, and freshman Maddie Mayuga.

DEFENDERS

While it may seem counterintuitive, the attacking mindset of the 2018 Leopards all starts with the back line as Stone believes the team's ability to create offense out of its defensive unit is one of its biggest strengths. That all starts with van der Geest, a Preseason All-Patriot League selection and co-captain who Stone calls her "on-the-field general."

"Lisa, as our center back, is the lynchpin of how we operate. She moves the ball over distance easily and sees lanes really well," Stone said. "She's quite good at communicating, directing and holding our players to a high standard."

The partner for van der Geest is the newly-inserted Sawers, who also made significant strides this offseason, participating in the U23 Canadian National Championship this past July. Sawers, who saw more time up the field a year ago, will have the ability to move into more of a central midfield role at times, giving the back line some versatility.

"Audrey is one of the best players that we have on the field at all times. She will be a really big piece for us that we didn't necessarily have last fall, because she wasn't at this skill level," added Stone. "She's made, over a year, some incredible growth, which is positive for our program, seeing her grow technically within our environment."

Likely candidates for the majority of time in other defensive roles include senior co-captain Rachel Bird and freshman Kara Tiedtke, who both will be rotational defenders. Bird is a key player who moves the ball well, while Tidetke will be a significant performer as she gains experience through her rookie season.

GOALIES

Junior Sarah Park heads a three-member positional group between the pipes for Lafayette after playing in every minute during the 2017 campaign. Park carried a 3.29 goals-against average and a .623 save percentage a year ago, making 76 saves and recording three shutouts.

"Sarah made a lot of improvements during the offseason and I feel good about where she's at. She's a significantly stronger keeper now than she was a year ago, which is quite positive for the group." Stone said. "She's faster, more dynamic and can organize better. She was also involved in U.S. high performance training in the early summer, which has had an impact on her play. I certainly expect her to hold down the defensive unit and the position in the cage."

While Stone expects Park to see the majority of the time, freshman Hailey Abbott and sophomore Lola Dada have helped create some competition at the position. Abbott, a three-time Tri-County All-Star at Delsea Regional High School in Malaga, New Jersey, has changed the dynamic of the positional group and brought a competitive element, helpful to all three keepers' development.

CORNERS

Delahanty will replace Colbourne as the insert on a corner unit that converted on just under 20 percent of its chances in 2017.

"She gets good ball speed and is not afraid to follow her feed by putting herself in a great goal-scoring position," Stone said of her senior midfielder.

Steps, Sawers and van der Geest will be the other playmakers on a variety of plays from different looks.

"With Lisa's sweep and ability to put the ball in, we can be dangerous," Stone said. "Lisa and Audrey are big for that unit and Lisa's connection with Anna helped to score a lot of goals last season."

SCHEDULE

Following Friday's season opener, the Leopards hit the road for a pair of non-conference tilts before returning home to host Temple on Sept. 7. A trip to Maine on Sept. 9 precedes the start of Patriot League play as the Leopards host Lehigh on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

"The Patriot League is proving to be stronger and stronger more consistently every year," Stone concluded. "The gap between the seven team and the top team is getting closer and closer, which is telling for the competitiveness of our conference."

Defending Patriot League champion Boston U. comes to College Hill on Sept. 29, while the Leopards' other home league game brings American to Rappolt Field on Oct. 20. The regular season wraps up on Oct. 27 at Bucknell, with the Patriot League Tournament set to begin on Nov. 2.