EASTON, Pa.- Jennifer Stone, head coach of Lafayette field hockey, received the 2024-25 Maroon Club Staff Achievement Award at the Faculty and Administrative Awards Celebration on Thursday.

The award, which is voted on by the Maroon Club Executive Committee, is given to a full-time athletic department staff member who has demonstrated outstanding service to Lafayette College and its athletics program. It is the highest honor the Maroon Club may bestow upon athletics staff members.

Faculty, administrators, and trustees gathered for a celebratory evening to honor the extraordinary achievements of colleagues throughout the academic year during the reception. President Nicole Hurd and the Board of Trustees presented awards to each honoree during a dinner ceremony thereafter in Marquis Hall.

Stone, completing her 12^th year with the Maroon and White, helped Lafayette to a historic fall season. The Leopards finished 2024 with a 14-7 (5-1 PL) record. She led the program to a first-round Division I NCAA playoff berth after securing the Leopards' first Patriot League Championship since 2012.

For the title on Nov. 9, Lafayette defeated American, 2-1, in overtime thanks to efforts from the program's first ever First Team All-American, Tournament MVP and Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Lineke Spaans.

The No. 21 Leopards chased down milestones such as Stone's 100^th career victory at the helm (5-0 against Boston U. on Oct. 25), a league-high six All-Patriot League honorees, four All-Mideast Region selections and nine players of the week.

Academically, the team, which included two NFHCA Scholars of Distinction, two All-Academic Patriot League athletes and 13 National Academic squad members, posted a conference-high 24 players on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and was titled a National Academic Team by the NFHCA for its 3.53 grade-point average. 

The 2004 College Hill graduate had previously spent six years as an assistant with the Leopards after finishing her playing career as one of the most successful players in program history. She started every game of her career and is third in the Leopard record books in career points (135) and career goals (51), while sitting second in career assists (33). The Economics & Business and Art major was a team captain in her final season and still holds a spot in the top-10 in the Patriot League in career assists, finishing her tenure in third and currently in eighth all-time.

Stone also holds a Level III USFHA Coaching Accreditation after completing a Level 3 coaching course and is actively involved with USA High Performance coaching, most recently serving as the Assistant Coach of the USA U17 team from 2016-2018, as an Assistant Coach with the USA U21 team during their tour in Argentina in 2018.

She earned a Master's in Sport & Recreation Management from Temple University in 2011.

Steve Plunkett, the Director of Strength and Conditioning, was last year's recipient. He is preceded by Andrew Foster, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Operations, in 2023 and Billie Weiss, Tickets and Promotion Manager, who was granted the laurel in 2022. Director of Sports Medicine Matt Bayly won the award in 2021 and 2017.

Plunkett and Kaity McKittrick, former Deputy Director of Athletics, received the award in 2019 and 2018, respectively, joining Athletics Business Manager Dave Blasic (2016), retired men's basketball head coach Fran O'Hanlon (2015), former football head coach Frank Tavani (2014) former track and field head coach Julio Piazza (2013) and current women's soccer head coach Mick Statham (2012) as previous recipients.
 
 
For the latest on the Lafayette College athletics, follow the Leopards on X @GoLeopards and Instagram @goleopards.