Mountain Hawks look back on successful season
5/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh women’s lacrosse program had another outstanding season in 2010, breaking the school record for the most league victories in a season, and setting a new school record for goals scored with 239. The Mountain Hawks earned the number-one seed in the Patriot League Tournament and produced the Patriot League’s Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. Lehigh began the 2010 season with eight consecutive wins, including a pair of tough road victories over Delaware and Fairfield and a convincing win over rival Lafayette at home.
“I thought the girls did a terrific job right from the start of the academic year of establishing team goals and then being very focused and determined in going after those goals,” 2010 Patriot League Coach of the Year Jill Redfern explained. “This was a great group to work with and I am very proud of what they accomplished. Although we came up short of our ultimate goal of winning a league championship this team achieved quite a bit, and they did it together.”
After equaling the best start in school history, the Mountain Hawks suffered two straight losses towards the middle of the season, but things got back on track following an inspired performance versus nationally ranked Penn State on April 7. The Mountain Hawks eventually fell to the Nittany Lions 14-13 on a last second goal, but Lehigh showed the nation that it belonged with the top lacrosse programs. “That game really showed our girls what they are capable of,” Redfern explained. “We were right there with a nationally ranked program and I think that it got us back on track in terms of playing up to our potential.”
Following the Penn State contest Lehigh ripped off four straight victories, including 15-12 win over Colgate in Hamilton, New York on April 24. That victory lifted Lehigh to its first Patriot League regular season championship since 1994 and also secured the top seed in the league tournament and with it the right to host. “The team set its sights on hosting the tournament back when we started early in the year,” Redfern commented. “To watch how determined they were and the way in which they pursued their goal, it was an incredible accomplishment.”
Lehigh opened postseason play with a hard-fought 9-8 win over fourth seed Holy Cross in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament. That victory pushed Lehigh into the Patriot League championship game for the first time in school annals. “It was not our best performance, but I was proud of the way the girls fought to the end,” Redfern explained. “We knew it was not going to be easy and it was not, but that was a big win for this group. It got us into the championship game for the first time.”
The Mountain Hawks victory over Holy Cross was their first Patriot League Tournament victory in school history and set up a date with second-seeded Navy. Although Lehigh would fall to the Midshipmen in the league title match, it did not diminish what was one of the greatest seasons in program history. The Mountain Hawks tied the record for overall wins in program history during the 2010 season with 14, and established the record for most home victories with eight.
“It’s never easy to lose, especially in a championship game,” Redfern explains. “There were some things we needed to do better in order to have won that game, but I know that experience will fuel our returning team members as they set their sights on the 2011 season.”
Lehigh placed six student-athletes on the 2010 All-Patriot League teams, including junior captain Lauren Dykstra who was honored as the Patriot League’s Defensive Player of the Year. She became the first student-athlete in league history to earn the Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Joining Dykstra on the All-League Teams were classmate Allison Thomas, sophomores Kelly Draper and Leigh Ann Torcivia and freshmen Kenzie Dambach and Julie McBrien.
With all six of its All-League selections coming back next season, the Mountain Hawks have high expectations for another outstanding year.
Redfern recently announced the team’s award winners for the 2010 season. Senior co-captain Inneke Carmola was named the team’s Scholar Athlete of the Year. Carmola is a Biology major who is graduating from Lehigh with a 3.34 grade point average and she is a multi-year member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. “Inneke is going to be sorely missed by our program. She is a true student-athlete who worked tirelessly to help raise the profile of our program and I cannot thank her enough for what she has done for us the last four years.”
Following a season in which she was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a First-Team All-League selection, Dykstra earned the Lehigh Women’s Lacrosse Outstanding Athlete Award. The 2010 Coaches Award went to junior Allison Thomas who like Dykstra, was a First-Team All-Patriot League selection. “Lauren and Allison are two special players that will have high expectations for the team and themselves next season,” Redfern explained. “They are extremely hard workers and great role models for everyone within our program.”
Lehigh loses a strong trio of seniors from this year’s team, including Carmola, Kelsy Ferris and Lindsey Smith that helped lead Lehigh to four Patriot League Tournament appearances and 43 victories during their four seasons in the Brown and White. “This senior class has played a large part in elevating the program,” Redfern said. “They came to work day-in and day-out and did a great job of leading their younger teammates.”
