EASTON, Pa. – Lena Thedrian (Sr., D) scored two goals to lead No. 1 Lafayette (17-2, 6-0 PL) to a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Boston University (9-10, 4-2 PL) to claim its second Patriot League field hockey crown in three years.
Thedrian received Patriot League Championship Most Outstanding Player honors after scoring three goals in two games while helping the Leopards’ defense limit opponents to one goal. The Patriot League Field Hockey Defender of the Year earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team for the fourth time.
The Leopards’ Katie Gibb (Sr., M), the Patriot League Midfielder of the Year, recorded two assists and joined teammates Stella Malinowski (Sr., M) and Lea Good (Sr., F) on the 11-member Patriot League Field Hockey All-Tournament Team after helping Lafayette to the program’s seventh League title and second under head coach Jennifer Stone.
Boston University’s Nicole Lauro (Sr., M) finished with three shots and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, along with teammates Alex Purcell (Sr., B) and Sophie Ortyl (Sr., GK), who made 10 saves in two tournament matches.
American’s Sophie Willemse (Sr., D) and Teagan Harmon (So., GK) and Holy Cross’ Maguire Sturgis (Sr., M) and Abby Kent (Fr., B) rounded out the 11-member All-Patriot League Tournament Team.
Lafayette will learn its postseason matchup and destination on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 10 p.m. when the bracket is announced during the 2026 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Selection Show, available on NCAA.com.
For more information on the 2026 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship, visit
Championship Central.
2026 Patriot League Field Hockey All-Tournament Team
Lena Thedrian, Lafayette, Sr., D - Most Outstanding Player
Stella Malinowski, Lafayette, Sr., M
Lea Good, Lafayette, Sr., F
Katie Gibb, Lafayette, Sr., M
Nicole Lauro, Boston University, Sr., M
Alex Purcell, Boston University, Sr., B
Sophie Ortyl, Boston University, Sr., GK
Sophie Willemse, American, Sr., D
Teagan Harmon, American, So., GK
Maguire Sturgis, Holy Cross, Sr., M
Abby Kent, Holy Cross, Fr., B
2026 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship Schedule
| Semifinal Round |
Thursday, Nov. 5 – Hosted by Lafayette College |
Time |
Results |
| Game 1 |
No. 4 Holy Cross at No. 1 Lafayette |
Noon |
Lafayette, 4-0 |
| Game 2 |
No. 3 Boston University vs. No. 2 American |
3 p.m. |
Boston U., 1-0 |
| Championship Game |
Saturday, Nov. 7 – Hosted by Lafayette College |
Time |
Results |
| Game 3 |
No. 3 Boston University at No. 1 Lafayette |
Noon |
Lafayette, 2-1 |
AT NO. 1 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (17-2, 6-0 PL) 2, NO. 3 BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS (9-10, 4-2 PL) 1
Rappolt Field/Easton, Pa. Noon (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
EASTON, Pa. – Lena Thedrian scored two goals to lift top-seeded Lafayette to a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Boston University for the Leopards’ second Patriot League Field Hockey title in three years.
*Thedrian, the Patriot League Championship Most Outstanding Player, found the back of the cage on penalty corners in the second and third quarters to give her three goals during the two-game League championship at Lafayette’s Rappolt Field.
*Katie Gibb (Sr., M), the Patriot League Midfielder of the Year, recorded two assists, while Olivia Krey (Jr., M) and Lea Good (Sr., F) each recorded one assist.
*Addison Kahn (Jr., GK), the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, made three saves to earn the win for the Leopards.
*Boston University’s Caroline O’Brien (Gr., F) scored the Terriers’ lone goal in the third quarter to even the score at one. O’Brien, last season’s championship MVP has recorded four goals in the last two Patriot League Championship Matches.
*O’Brien and Nicole Lauro (Sr., M) took three shots apiece to lead the Terriers’ offense.
*The Terriers’ Sophie Ortyl (Sr., GK) made three saves in the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
*After a scoreless first quarter, Lafayette took control in the next frame taking seven shots with Thedrian breaking through on a penalty corner, assisted by Krey and Gibb at the 17:53 mark.
*The Terriers evened the score shortly after halftime as Caroline O’Brien, last year’s Patriot League Championship MVP, scored the equalizer at the 31:49 mark in the third quarter.
*Less than four minutes later Boston University drew five straight penalty corners, but the Leopards’ defense held the Terriers scoreless with two saves from Kahn.
*Lafayette drew a corner three minutes later at the 38:18 mark, with Thedrian scoring her second goal of the game five seconds later, assisted by Lea Good and Gibb.
*BU’s Alex Purcell (Sr., B) and Lauro managed the only two shots of the final quarter, but Lafayette controlled the ball over the final two minutes to claim its second League title in three years.
RECAPS:
BOSTON UNIVERSITY |
LAFAYETTE
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.