Lehigh University Athletics
Pecora and Perrone selected for USA Field Hockey High Performance Training Squad
5/17/2019 10:40:00 AM | Field Hockey
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For a second straight year, Lehigh field hockey's Drew Pecora was selected to participate in the USA Field Hockey High Performance Training Squad. This year, joining her among those selected is fellow Mountain Hawk Olivia Perrone. A rising junior, Pecora missed last season due to injury, but finished second on the team with 12 points as a freshman in 2018. Meanwhile, Perrone was named second team All-League in 2019 during her freshman campaign, tying for second on the Mountain Hawks with 11 points. This marks the first time in program history Lehigh has had two student-athletes named to the High Performance Squad, which will train over the summer.
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"High Performance is the highest level of competition offered for collegiate athletes over the summer months," said Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer. "It is an honor to be chosen to train with the best athletes in the region and have a chance to earn a spot on the roster for the championships. Drew and Liv are always driven to get the most out of their training sessions by bringing a high work date and attention to detail. Training at this level over the summer will be extremely beneficial for both of them coming into preseason."
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Pecora and Perrone were two of a large contingent who tried out for the squad. The High Performance program is intended to train potential U.S. Women's National Team athletes through comprehensive training and skill enhancement sessions, as well as premier level competitions.
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While Pecora and Perrone were selected for the New Jersey region, the top athletes across the entire program will represent their region at the Young Women's National Championship (YMNC) held annually in June. This year's event is June 14-18 at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Pa. The YWNC serves as a selection opportunity for a trial with the National Team, or may be selected to attend the next U-19 Junior National Camp or U-21 Development Team Camp.
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As a freshman in 2018, Pecora started all 18 games and scored five goals while dishing two assists. The team leader in shooting percentage (0.250), Pecora tied for the team lead in game-winning goals with two. Pecora scored the game's only goal in a Patriot League victory at Colgate while scoring the go-ahead (and what proved to be game-winning) goal two weekends prior vs. Georgetown. Pecora netted a goal in consecutive games at Bucknell and vs. Yale to earn Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors.
"I'm really excited to be able to have the opportunity to play with athletes from all different schools and grow my skills to a new level this summer," said Pecora. "It's a great way to continue to keep working and developing my skills and play, especially since I wasn't able to play a whole lot in the spring season. I'm really excited to get back to training for the fall season."
Meanwhile, Perrone enjoyed impressive success as a freshman as well, recording three goals and five assists to earn second team All-League honors. She was twice named Patriot League Rookie of the Week, the first coming after her first-career goal, which came in the second half against Ball State to give Lehigh its first win over the Cardinals since 1984. Perrone went on to dish assists at Lafayette and LIU Brooklyn, scored a goal at Georgetown, had an assist at Yale then posted a goal and two assists in the regular-season finale at Towson, a 3-2 win. Perrone earned her second weekly award after that victory.
"Being able to train at such a high level with some coaches who have been to the Olympics is the greatest opportunity I could ask for," said Perrone. "I get to experience different coaches' coaching styles and be able to take some high-level drills back to Lehigh. Being named to High Performance is an awesome opportunity and I hope I can even make it to the next level."
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Along with the Towson and Ball State victories in 2019, the Mountain Hawks topped Patriot League foe Colgate and took archrival Lafayette to overtime for a second straight year. Lehigh also scored nine more goals than all of the previous season, netting 24 in 2018. The Mountain Hawks scored 17 goals off penalty corners, converting on 18.7 percent of their corners -- more than double the number of goals (and percentage) as the year prior.
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Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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"High Performance is the highest level of competition offered for collegiate athletes over the summer months," said Lehigh head coach Caitlin Dallmeyer. "It is an honor to be chosen to train with the best athletes in the region and have a chance to earn a spot on the roster for the championships. Drew and Liv are always driven to get the most out of their training sessions by bringing a high work date and attention to detail. Training at this level over the summer will be extremely beneficial for both of them coming into preseason."
Â
Pecora and Perrone were two of a large contingent who tried out for the squad. The High Performance program is intended to train potential U.S. Women's National Team athletes through comprehensive training and skill enhancement sessions, as well as premier level competitions.
Â
While Pecora and Perrone were selected for the New Jersey region, the top athletes across the entire program will represent their region at the Young Women's National Championship (YMNC) held annually in June. This year's event is June 14-18 at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Pa. The YWNC serves as a selection opportunity for a trial with the National Team, or may be selected to attend the next U-19 Junior National Camp or U-21 Development Team Camp.
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As a freshman in 2018, Pecora started all 18 games and scored five goals while dishing two assists. The team leader in shooting percentage (0.250), Pecora tied for the team lead in game-winning goals with two. Pecora scored the game's only goal in a Patriot League victory at Colgate while scoring the go-ahead (and what proved to be game-winning) goal two weekends prior vs. Georgetown. Pecora netted a goal in consecutive games at Bucknell and vs. Yale to earn Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors.
"I'm really excited to be able to have the opportunity to play with athletes from all different schools and grow my skills to a new level this summer," said Pecora. "It's a great way to continue to keep working and developing my skills and play, especially since I wasn't able to play a whole lot in the spring season. I'm really excited to get back to training for the fall season."
Meanwhile, Perrone enjoyed impressive success as a freshman as well, recording three goals and five assists to earn second team All-League honors. She was twice named Patriot League Rookie of the Week, the first coming after her first-career goal, which came in the second half against Ball State to give Lehigh its first win over the Cardinals since 1984. Perrone went on to dish assists at Lafayette and LIU Brooklyn, scored a goal at Georgetown, had an assist at Yale then posted a goal and two assists in the regular-season finale at Towson, a 3-2 win. Perrone earned her second weekly award after that victory.
"Being able to train at such a high level with some coaches who have been to the Olympics is the greatest opportunity I could ask for," said Perrone. "I get to experience different coaches' coaching styles and be able to take some high-level drills back to Lehigh. Being named to High Performance is an awesome opportunity and I hope I can even make it to the next level."
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Along with the Towson and Ball State victories in 2019, the Mountain Hawks topped Patriot League foe Colgate and took archrival Lafayette to overtime for a second straight year. Lehigh also scored nine more goals than all of the previous season, netting 24 in 2018. The Mountain Hawks scored 17 goals off penalty corners, converting on 18.7 percent of their corners -- more than double the number of goals (and percentage) as the year prior.
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Like Lehigh field hockey on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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