Field hockey team bounces back

After a stretch of eight straight losses during the heart of its schedule, the Lehigh (5-10, 2-3 Patriot) field hockey team bounced back with a series of four wins to bring life back into its season.

Following a win against Rider University at the start of the season, the team had an eight-game losing streak against more competitive teams including University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Bucknell University and Georgetown University.

These losses did not put a damper on the women’s spirits, however, as the team went on to beat Holy Cross 1-0, Siena College 4-3, Colgate University 6-0 and Towson University 5-0.

Coach Caitlin Dallmeyer attributed the winning streak to the team’s hard work and and strong desire to win.

“The previous eight games were a big learning experience, played against a higher level of opponent,” Dallmeyer said. “The girls just didn’t drop the level of play they had become accustomed to from previous games.”

This is Dallmeyer’s first year coaching at Lehigh. She said the two major changes from previous years are the commitment shown by the players before and after practices and the structured, pre-cut film the girls watch as part of practice. In the past, film days were much longer compared to the quick editing that allows for longer times on the field.

However, the biggest change has been that the team doesn’t have captains. Instead, the team has a leadership council of five players that take on the same responsibilities as that of captain.

“Rather than have two or so people in charge, all five members have and utilize their different leadership styles and approaches,” said senior Janelle High, a member of the leadership council. “Together we form a cohesive unit that helps lead the team and provide direction. One of our prime responsibilities is to create a team culture where everyone can be seen as a leader and feels comfortable taking action even as a freshman.”

The freshmen on the team have kept an open mind and adapted to the higher level of play and intensity found at the college level.

“They are always ready to tackle the next thing thrown at them,” High said.

Dallmeyer attributed the recent four-game winning streak to the heightened maintenance of work ethic. Building off of a solid foundation of basic skills, the team has continued to work on improving and adding to their “toolboxes.”

Another attribute of the four-game winning streak was seeing multiple people step up and work as a unit. Dallmeyer said she appreciated the increase of confidence as goals were being scored, and the satisfaction of seeing what success can be like when committing to something.

“It speaks a lot to our team’s progress that we had so many different people score over the course of the two weekends,” High said. “Specifically sophomores Kendra Sandburg and Lauren Dice, who really came into their own, developing as players while entering the last couple weeks of the season, which are the most crucial.”

Dice, who plays midfield, scored the winning goal against Siena College in overtime, catapulting the team to a 4-3 victory, as well as the third goal that sent the team into overtime.

The Mountain Hawks return to action Friday to take on rival Lafayette College. Lehigh is in a must-win situation, as a loss would eliminate the Hawks from postseason contention. The game will be Lehigh’s final Patriot League game of the year before closing out the regular season against Brown University on Oct. 30.