CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Four members of the Lafayette field hockey team were honored as All-Patriot League selections, the Patriot League office announced on Tuesday morning. Freshman
Molly McAndrew was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in addition to an All-League First-Team selection, while co-captains
Theresa Delahanty and
Lisa van der Geest joined McAndrew on the first team and junior
Caroline Turnbull picked up second-team honors.
McAndrew is the fourth Patriot League Rookie of the Year in program history and first since Brittany Blass '15 took home the honor in 2011. Other former winners include Meghan Cicchi '11 in 2007, Kellee Salber '00 in 1996 and Andrea Dagostino '94 in 1990.
"Molly is one of the most creative attacking players that I've had the pleasure to coach," head coach
Jennifer Stone said. "Her love for the game and commitment to improvement makes her a top competitor and separates her from others. I'm thrilled for her and the bright future she has ahead of her."
The Cherry Hill, N.J. native was a sparkplug for the Leopards' offense this season, leading the team in scoring and the Patriot League in rookie scoring with seven goals in 18 games played. McAndrew added four assists for 18 points on the year and recorded a pair of game-winning goals in victories over Lehigh and American to help Lafayette to a 4-2 conference mark and a bid to the Patriot League Tournament this weekend.
Delahanty put together a stellar senior campaign despite missing five games to start the year with a broken hand. The Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania native slotted five goals and added six assists for 16 points this season, good enough for third on the team in scoring.
"Theresa had a great year, especially given her injury to start the year," Stone added. "She's a dangerous attacking midfielder, able to open up defenses when given the chance. Theresa is persistent and difficult to deal with for any team on both sides of the field."
Delahanty had her best game of the year on the road at Villanova, registering two goals and an assist for five points, including the game-winner. The all-league honor is the first in her career.
Rounding out the first-team selections is van der Geest, no stranger to all-league laurels as she was a second-team honor each of the last two seasons. Hailing from Oegstgeest, Netherlands, van der Geest tied for the team-lead offensively with six goals and six assists for 18 points this season, including two game-winning tallies against Drexel and Colgate.
"Lisa is certainly one of the top defenders in the league and I'm glad she was recognized as such," Stone said. "She is a staple in all areas of the field, the backbone of our defense and a threat on our attack penalty corner unit. Lisa is invaluable for us on the field each game and incredibly deserving of this award and any other accolade that comes her way."
Defensively, van der Geest anchored a unit that played its best hockey in the latter part of the season. Lafayette allowed just 11 goals over its final six games, a 1.83 goals-against average during that stretch, compared to 42 over the first 12 contests, a 3.50 goals-against mark.
Turnbull's first all-league recognition came as part of the league's second team this fall as a versatile forward and midfielder for the Maroon and White. The Harding, New Jersey native was forced into a number of different roles this fall, but contributed in every facet to help the Leopards to a Patriot League Tournament berth.
"I'm very happy to see that other coaches recognized the strength of Caroline for our team in the midfield," added Stone. "She's an incredibly versatile player and will do whatever is asked of her to help the team. Caroline solidified a defensive midfield role for this team and was invaluable in her tackling, organization and management of the middle of the field."
The junior netted four goals and two assists for Lafayette in 2018, including the game-winner in a crucial league victory at Holy Cross. Her four goals came on just six shots on goal, boasting a shot percentage of .333, good enough for second on the team.
Lafayette takes its talents to Boston, Massachusetts for the Patriot League Tournament this weekend, beginning with a semifinal matchup with the host on Friday. Despite tying for second in the final Patriot League standings, the fourth-seeded Leopards face off with top-seeded Boston U. at 11:30 a.m., followed by second-seeded American and third-seeded Bucknell at 2:30 p.m. The championship game is set for Sunday at noon.
2018 Patriot League Field Hockey Major Award WinnersOffensive Player of the Year - Rafaela Rubas, American, Sr., Midfielder
Defensive Player of the Year - Ally Hammel, Boston University, Sr., Defender
Goalkeeper of the Year - Maura Jacobs, American, Sr., Goalkeeper
Rookie of the Year - Molly McAndrew, Lafayette, Fr., ForwardCoach of the Year - Sally Starr, Boston University
2018 First Team All-Patriot League Field Hockey*Noor Coenen, American, So., F/M^
Maura Jacobs, American, Sr., GK
Rafaela Rubas, American, Sr., M^
Ailsa Connolly, Boston University, So., F^
Allie Doggett, Boston University, Sr., M^
Ally Hammel, Boston University, Sr., D^
Olivia Harris, Bucknell, Jr., GK
Lexi Quick, Bucknell, Sr., D^
Brittany Willwerth, Bucknell, Jr., F
Emily Loprete, Holy Cross, Sr., F^
Theresa Delahanty, Lafayette, Sr., M
Molly McAndrew, Lafayette, Fr., F
Lisa van der Geest, Lafayette, Jr., D^Lenke Havas, Lehigh, So., D/M
*14 players on the first-team due to a tie in the voting^Unanimous First-Team selection 2018 Second Team All-Patriot League Field HockeyMegan Benson, American, Sr., M
Rachel Stefano, American, Sr., D
Kiley Gallagher, Boston University, Jr., M
Petra Hall, Boston University, So., F/M
Sarah Dimock, Bucknell, So., F
Sally Olson, Bucknell, Sr., D
Olivia Krogermeier, Colgate, Fr., M
Suzanne Noone, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Caroline Turnbull, Lafayette, Jr.,
