Nov. 3, 2008
Center Valley, Pa.--Three Lafayette players were honored with weekly awards by the Patriot League Monday afternoon. Also honored was Holy Cross senior Kristin Schulz. who was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week.
On the slate this weekend is the Patriot League Field Hockey Tournament, which will be hosted by top-seeded American. In search of their sixth consecutive League title, the Eagles will host fourth-seeded Colgate in the first semifinal Friday at 11 a.m. In the second semifinal, second-seeded Lafayette will take on third-seeded Bucknell at 1:30 p.m. The two winners will meet Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Patriot League Field Hockey Release 11.03.08 
Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 20-Oct. 26)
Kristin Schulz, Holy Cross Sr., F, Fairfield, Conn.
Schulz helped the Crusaders close the season with back-to-back victories. She finished the week with two goals and an assist for five total points. She also notched both game-winners in a pair of one-goal victories. Against Bucknell, Schulz recorded an assist and the game-winning goal in the second overtime period to give the Crusaders a 3-2 win over the Bison. In the Crusaders' season finale, Schulz scored the game's only goal in a 1-0 Holy Cross triumph over Maine.
Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 20-Oct. 26)
Meghan Cicchi, Lafayette So., D, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Cicchi helped the Leopards record back-to-back shutouts. She was part of a defensive effort that allowed just nine shots and six shots on goal in two games. She helped the Leopards limit Colgate, which entered the game averaging a League-leading 13.31 shots per game, to just four shots. Cicchi also assisted the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory over West Chester.
Goalkeeper of the Week (Oct. 20-Oct. 26)
Kelsey Andersen, Lafayette So., GK, West Long Branch, N.J.
Andersen recorded her fifth and six shutouts of the season in wins over West Chester and Colgate. She stopped all six shots on goal she faced to earn her 12th victory of the season.
Rookie of the Week (Oct. 20-Oct. 26)
Carolyn Cabrey, Lafayette Fr., D, North Wales, Pa.
Cabrey helped aid a Lafayette defense that limited Colgate and West Chester to nine combined shots in back-to-back shutout victories. Cabrey also assisted the game-winning goal in the Leopards 2-0 win against Colgate.
Patriot League Notebook
Washington Bound
No. 19 American clinched the top spot in the upcoming Patriot League Championship with a 3-1 win over Lafayette on Oct. 25. Joining the Eagles in Washington will be second-seeded Lafayette, third-seeded Bucknell and fourth-seeded Colgate.
Up and Down
All sorts of scenarios surrounded the final weekend of Patriot League play. Despite the fact that Colgate had already clinched a spot in the tournament and Bucknell lost on the final weekend, the Raiders were passed by the Bison in the Patriot League standings. Because Colgate lost and Holy Cross beat Bucknell, those three teams finished tied for third place in the Patriot League standings. The tie was broken by Division I winning percentage, giving Bucknell the third seed and Colgate the final spot in the tournament.
2008 Patriot League Championship
The 2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship will be held Friday-Saturday, Nov. 7-8 at the William I. Jacobs Recreational Complex in Washington, D.C. Five-time defending champion American will square off against fourth-seeded Colgate in the tournament opener on Friday at 11 a.m. Second-seeded Lafayette and third-seeded Bucknell will meet at 1:30 p.m. The two winners will battle at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday for the League Championship.
Championship History
American has finished undefeated in regular season League play six straight seasons. The Eagles will be in pursuit of their sixth straight League tournament championship under head coach Steve Jennings. American defeated Lafayette, 3-1, to claim last year's League title. American has never lost a Patriot League Championship game. The last time American did not win the Patriot League Championship was in 2002 when Lafayette defeated Holy Cross for the crown. Lafayette has appeared in 11 of 18 Patriot League Championship games, winning seven. Colgate will seek its first League Championship since 1996, when the Raiders defeated Lehigh for the title. The Raiders' last appearance in the title game was in 2004. Bucknell will pursue its first League title. The Bison have made three appearances in the League title game.
Team Notebooks
American No. 19 American capped off an undefeated regular season in League play with a 6-0 win over Lehigh in Easton, Pa. Irene Shickhardt finished with a goal and an assist in the contest, while Alyssa Poorman notched her 10th victory of the season. The Eagles suffered a non-League setback, 5-2, at No. 11 Princeton. Shickhardt again tallied an assist. She now has 10 goals, five assists and 25 points. As a result of finishing atop the regular season standings, the Eagles will host the upcoming Patriot League Tournament. American will begin its quest for a sixth consecutive title against fourth-seeded Colgate at 11 a.m. Friday.
Bucknell The Bison claimed a spot in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament, despite dropping its final regular season contest to Holy Cross, 3-2. Third-seeded Bucknell will begin pursuit of its first League title on Friday at 1:30 p.m. against second-seeded Lafayette in Washington, D.C. Bucknell has made three appearances in the League title game. The Bison dropped a 2-1 decision in double-overtime to the Leopards earlier this season.
Colgate Despite dropping its final two League games of the regular season, Colgate received the final spot in the Patriot League Tournament. The Raiders, who were in a three-way tie with Bucknell and Holy Cross, earned the final spot based on Division I winning percentage. Colgate dropped a 2-0 decision at Lafayette to close the regular season. The Raiders will begin tournament play on Friday at 11 a.m. against defending League-champion American in Washington, D.C.
Holy Cross The Crusaders won three of their final four regular season contests, including their last two League games, to move into a three-way tie with Colgate and Bucknell for third place in the Patriot League. However, Holy Cross was edged by both squads for the final tournament spot based on Division I winning percentage. Kristin Schulz helped the Crusaders finish on a high note with game-winning goals against Bucknell and Maine. Holy Cross finished its season with a 7-11 mark.
Lafayette The Leopards stifled both West Chester and Colgate for a pair of shutout victories last week, marking the second time this season Lafayette has recorded back-to-back shutouts. The Leopards also registered three shutouts against League foes this season, marking the first time Lafayette has done so since 2002. Lafayette has now recorded six shutouts this season, matching the mark set by the 2001 team. The Leopards held Colgate to just four shots and three shots on goal. Prior to the game, Colgate had been averaging a League-best 13.31 shots per game. Second-seeded Lafayette will start League tournament play on Friday at 1:30 p.m. against third-seeded Bucknell.
Lehigh The Mountain Hawks closed the regular season with a pair of losses to ranked foes. Lehigh took a 6-0 loss to No.19 American in Easton, Pa.. The Mountain Hawks also suffered a 7-2 defeat at the hands of No. 15 Drexel. Lehigh finished the year 0-5 in the Patriot League and 3-14 overall.
