Lehigh University Athletics
From Head Coach Julie Mazer
12/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Hello from Lehigh University Field Hockey.
As I prepare for another productive spring season with the team, I cannot help but think about this past season and the positive direction the program has taken. This past fall the program took some significant steps to re-establish itself among the best in the Patriot League and beyond.
Our final record at the close of the regular season was 9-9, 2-3 in the Patriot League. We beat Bucknell for our first win in the PL in over three years and scored a convincing 6 goals in the process! Additionally, we beat Lafayette at home 4-2 in our regular season finale. This was the first win over Lafayette in 10 years. After losing our first three league contests, the team bounced back for two must-win games in order to qualify for the Patriot League playoffs. The league is more competitive than ever, with a nationally ranked team like American challenging us to raise our level of play every day. Another impressive statistic on the season was scoring 27 more goals than last season and we finished the season ranked 20th in the nation for scoring offense with 2.55 goals per game. Our season came to a close in the PL playoffs vs. American. The program is moving in the right direction and I am proud of the season we completed in 2004. We are playing smarter and more skillful hockey and coming together as a team in the process.
Besides updating you on the progress of the field hockey program, I am writing to you in hopes of improving our percentage of alumni giving to the Athletics Partnership. Currently, only 6% of all field hockey alumni donate annually to the Partnership. I sincerely thank those who have participated because your donations make a difference for all of our athletic programs.
Winning on the field is not my only interest. It is my hope that we can double our percentage of annual alumni giving. Whether you contribute $25 or $250 is not as important as the total number of field hockey alumni who choose to give back to Lehigh. As it is only my second year here, I have not met most of you who donned the brown and white for Lehigh University Field Hockey. Although, as an alumna of West Chester University, I competed against many of you on the field and I am well aware of the rich history, pride, and tradition associated with the Lehigh University Field Hockey program. I hope you have as many wonderful memories of your college field hockey days as I do and will give back to the Partnership as a way to recognize your positive experiences with our program.
In an effort to connect our current players with the alumni, I am inviting you to participate in our spring tournament on April 24, 2005. I would like to start a new tradition of having an alumni team compete in our spring tournament on an annual basis. This tournament will be the culmination of our spring season and I hope you will come to play, reconnect with former teammates, and meet the future of Lehigh University Field Hockey. We will be playing 7 a side with two fields going at once and will be competing against some local teams from the area. It will be a great day and I hope you can join us.
In closing, I hope you will take a moment to consider the value of your experience as a member of the Lehigh University Field Hockey program. With this in mind, please make your contribution today to make a difference tomorrow.
Thank you for supporting Lehigh University Field Hockey and wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Julie Mazer
