Lehigh field hockey takes away positives from 5-13 season

Lehigh field hockey’s season ended Sunday with a 4-0 loss to Cornell University.

The Mountain Hawks were 5-13 with a 2-4 Patriot League record.

Despite the shutout loss to conclude the season, junior midfielder and forward Isabel McKeown said the team’s season was more successful than its record indicated.

“We’re taking positive aspects from it because we have positives to take out of our program like (victories over) Lafayette and Georgetown,” McKeown said. “We don’t come up with victories like that every year. This is a great place to leave off.”

The end of the season marked the conclusion of coach Caitlin Dallmeyer’s second year with the team. Dallmeyer said she was impressed by the team’s culture this year and believes the players made great strides in improving their mental toughness.

This showed when the team beat longtime rival and Patriot League opponent Lafayette College for the first time since 2005.

“Lafayette was a highlight of the season,” junior forward Teresa Carotenuto said. “Obviously it’s a huge game every time we play them, and both teams show up to play.”

Carotenuto was the team’s leading scorer this season and scored the winning goal in overtime during the Rivalry matchup on Oct. 6.

She said the win was especially memorable for the team’s seniors, who have consistently given their time and energy to the program over the course of their Lehigh careers. Carotenuto said the win was also memorable for sophomore goalkeeper Paige Innarella, who totaled 12 vital saves, shutting out Lafayette.

Dallmeyer echoed McKeown and said the 3-2 victory over Georgetown University on Oct. 15 during Senior Day was also a highlight of the season.

Freshman forward Drew Pecora scored the winning goal of the game with an assist by Carotenuto to secure the win. This was the second year in a row the team was able to score a Senior Day win.

The team also landed its second Patriot League victory over Colgate University 1-0 the day before the Mountain Hawks fell to Cornell. Dallmeyer said the team was pleased with a Colgate win to finish off the season.

Next season the team will compete without the help of its four graduating seniors — two midfielders, a goalie and a defender.

“Graduating four very strong leaders, finding where leadership lies within the returning group is certainly a priority for the off-season,” Dallmeyer said.

McKeown said the team plans to fill the holes in its midfield line and work on transitioning the ball between defending and attacking. In the spring, McKeown said the Mountain Hawks will work on building chemistry in anticipation of the fall season.

But first, Carotenuto said the players plan to enjoy their free time and rest to recover before the offseason is in full swing.