Sophomore midfielder Lauren Beausoleil dodges multiple Niagara University defenders during a game on Feb. 22, 2015. The Hawks earned the No. 5 seed in the Patriot League Tournament and will play against Boston University on April 21. (Liz Cornell/B&W photo)
The Lehigh women’s lacrosse team squeezed into the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 5 seed.
Lehigh (9-7, 4-4 Patriot) has beaten Patriot League rivals Lafayette College, Bucknell University, American University and College of the Holy Cross this year. The team has been training to assure that its low seed in the Patriot League does not mirror its outcome in the tournament, which will begin on April 21
“One high of the season was when we had a four-game winning streak with away games within two days of each other,” Abramczyk said. “It isn’t easy playing on the road and especially with a break in between each game. I thought our team rallied really well and responded to the challenge.”
The team beat Bucknell, Mount St. Mary’s University, Bryant University and Rutgers University consecutively in late March. Although it was a confidence boost, those highs were hit with a low directly after its winning streak.
“After the four game winning streak, we came home and played our last two home games of the season ending in a loss against Boston University and Navy,” Abramczyk said. “Although this was a low point of our season, we responded to this defeat by beating American the following weekend and clinching a spot in the Patriot League Tournament.”
Lehigh will continue its season behind sophomore attacker Allison LaBeau. Last year, LaBeau was named the Patriot League’s Rookie of the Year and continues to be a major asset to the team.
“I think that every team in the Patriot League is the same challenge as last year if not getting better,” LaBeau said. “With our team, I think that we are becoming more disciplined and moving toward being mentally tough.”
The women have been hard at work preparing for the tournament, working on plays and being proactive at practice. Although LaBeau plays attack, she feels that her teammates on defense have been the key players this season. In addition to the defenders, LaBeau believes her goal keeper is also a great contribution to the team this season.
“Key players would be our three low defenders: Lauren Willcox, Kelly Scott and Abramczyk,” she said. “Every game these players mark up on the opposing team’s toughest attackers and hold them to minimal points, sometimes shutting them down completely. Our sophomore goalie Taylor Tvedt has also been huge for us this year. She comes up with big saves and fuels momentum.”
Senior captain Scott has been busy this semester to assure that she leaves a legacy, as this will be her last season with the team. Scott expressed her excitement for the tournament and mirrored her team’s desire to compete in the championship game. With a desire to leave her lacrosse career on a high note, Scott said she is looking forward to getting revenge.
The No. 5 seed Lehigh will compete against No. 4 seed Boston on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League Tournament.
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