Tofig’s career day leads Lehigh to impressive 4-2 Senior Day win over Brown
10/30/2016 2:32:00 PM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Gabby Tofig enjoyed a Senior Day to remember, recording her first-career hat trick in her final career game as the Lehigh field hockey team downed visiting Brown University, 4-2 on Sunday afternoon. Tofig was one of five Mountain Hawk seniors recognized prior to the game. Lehigh finished the game with a 20-8 edge in shots, on the way to its fifth win in the last eight games to end the season. The Mountain Hawks also ended the season with their most wins since 2011 and most home victories since 2004.
"Brown is a great team and we had to prepare for them in a lot of different ways, so I'm really excited to see the performance we were able to put out against a strong opponent," said Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer. "We had a phenomenal first half. There were some shaky moments in the second half, but we did a nice job of staying confident and poised, coming back and securing the win. I thought the last two games have been great performances and it's really nice to end the season with a strong level of play."
With Tofig's three goals, she finished her season, and collegiate career, with seven goals over her final nine games. It was also Lehigh's first hat trick since current sophomore Teresa Caroteunto scored four goals against Siena.
"What an amazing performance," said Dallmeyer. "It was so fun to watch from the sidelines as a coach. She's been working really hard and has worked hard on little pieces and details of her game. At times, it's been hard for her and things haven't clicked, so to see everything come together for her on Senior Day, it was probably just as satisfying for us as a staff as it was for her."
Lehigh fired the first eight shots of the game in an impressive display, scoring on its eighth attempt as sophomore Lauren Dice converted a penalty corner for a second straight game, giving her team a 1-0 lead at the 8:11 mark.
Brown quickly answered with a goal at 10:10, but Tofig responded with her first two goals of the game, at the 17:49 and 20:09 marks, to quickly give the Mountain Hawks a 3-1 advantage. The first goal came off a penalty corner as sophomore Lindsay Alvarez found Tofig for a low, quick shot. Just 2:20 later, senior Marissa Glatt carried in from the left side and centered to Tofig, who finished her sixth goal of the season.
The Bears pulled within one in the 52nd minute, finishing a drag flick off a penalty corner, but Tofig again had an answer. Just over eight minutes later, senior Kassidy Green passed towards cage, where Tofig made the deflection past Bears' goalkeeper Katie Hammacker for the 4-2 advantage, which proved to be the final.
Final shots were 20-8 in favor of Lehigh while the Mountain Hawks held a 10-3 edge in penalty corners. Freshman Paige Innarella made four saves across Hammacker, who tallied nine.
Seniors Tofig, Glatt, Green, Janelle High and Julia Ward helped the Lehigh field hockey program to success this season, and have helped set the foundation for success in the future.
"When I think about the senior class, I feel a strong sense of pride," said Dallmeyer. "Handling change can be really challenging and they did it with such grace and such positivity that it made the job of the coaching staff so much easier. They were so accepting and really the team to understand that a change in philosophy takes time to buy into, and we have to focus on progress.
"They really led by example and showed with their words and actions that they were in it to lead us towards a new phase in the program. Because of that, they were really well-regarded by their teammates, and by the younger players. I hope we can continue the same type of kind of mindset that they helped us create."
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Team Stats
BRWN
LEHIGH
Goals
2
4
Shots
8
20
Shots on Goal
6
13
Saves
9
4
Corners
3
10
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays

Dice, Lauren (5)
LEHIGH Dice, Lauren PENALTY STROKE GOAL, goal number 5 for season.
8:11

Seid, Ellie (4)
Assisted By: Openshaw, Gina
#16 with pass towards from of cage, #6 h
10:10

Tofig, Gabby (5)
Assisted By: Alvarez, Lindsay
Off corner, #7 passed to her left to #2
17:49

Tofig, Gabby (6)
Assisted By: Glatt, Marissa
#12 with move down left side to free her
20:09

Green, Lucy (5)
Assisted By: Ayles, Maddie
Drag flick off penalty corner.
51:52

Tofig, Gabby (7)
Assisted By: Green, Kassidy
Quick pass in front, deflected past GK
59:53
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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