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On Oct. 27, Syracuse trailed then-No. 8 UConn 1-0 with 13:28 to play. Willemijn Boogert controlled the ball in the middle of the field while the Huskies’ defenders swarmed her. Boogert calmly slotted a pass past defender Juana Garcia’s stick as Lieke Leeggangers dashed out wide to the ball.

Leeggangers, SU’s fourth-leading scorer, controlled the pass before falling to the ground. Still, she uncorked a shot from close range, which skipped past UConn goaltender Natalie McKenna to tie the game at 1-1. Leeggangers’ goal was the first of three for SU as it defeated UConn 3-1, which marked the Orange’s highest ranked win of the season.

“She’s a warrior,” SU head coach Lynn Farquhar said of Leeggangers. “She shows up in moments when we need her to show up and that’s what will continue to elevate the program.”

With Syracuse boasting a young core, Leeggangers provides the Orange with experience, making 48 starts across three seasons as one of SU’s most tenured players. Her experience in the United States playing field hockey is entirely different from how she started, though.

Growing up in Dongen, Netherlands, Leeggangers began playing field hockey when she was 4. Initially, she played with her friends for fun. But as her skills progressed, she started taking it more seriously.

“When I got older, I switched from clubs to play for a higher league,” Leeggangers said. “Just working together and having fun out on the field (built) my love for field hockey.”

Leeggangers’ experience also stems from her time practicing with her two siblings, Jaap and Noor. Leeggangers tried to model her game after the two, attending and studying each of their games and practices. Through her experience, Leeggangers’ technical skills stood out on each team she played on.

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“What stood out was her enthusiasm, her energy. She wanted to play (field) hockey every minute of the day,” Ton Leeggangers, Leeggangers’ father, said. “When we were in our garden, she would just run around with her stick and the ball. She always carried the stick along.”

Leeggangers rapidly developed, playing for MHC Liberty, a hockey club in Dongen at the sub-top level. Leeggangers and her team became regional champions from age 9-15 before she started playing for HC Tilburg MA1.

She quickly rose to stardom in Tilburg, helping her team jump to second place nationally in her first year. Competing in the Netherlands’ top league, Leeggangers sharpened her skills and developed into an increasingly dynamic player.

The switch was massive for Leeggangers, who took each practice in stride as a way to set up her future. When Leeggangers became more comfortable, she eventually became a team captain, leading the squad alongside some of the best players in the country.

Leeggangers’ improvement eventually earned her an opportunity to compete with the U18 Netherlands National Team. She participated in a tryout with over 100 girls, where she displayed her talents to some of the best coaches in the country.

Her performances garnered her a spot on the team, setting her up for more significant recruiting opportunities and boosting her status.

“(The tryouts) were only once a year. My coach sent me there, and I got through the first round and was able to play with them,” Leeggangers said. “Being from a small town, it was pretty overwhelming, but it was very cool to get the opportunity. You’re playing with the best girls in the Netherlands.”

Lieke Leeggangers has made 48 starts across three seasons as one of SU’s most tenured players. Leonardo Eriman | Staff Photographer

Leeggangers hadn’t always planned to play in college overseas, but receiving offers and recognizing new opportunities quickly changed her mind. The recruiting process was complex for Leeggangers, who didn’t visit any of the schools from which she received offers.

Still, she did her research and felt Syracuse was the best fit. Likewise, SU’s coaching staff thought Leeggangers could be an integral part of the Orange’s future. She met with former Syracuse assistant coach Tim Broenink at a showcase event in the Netherlands in October 2021, followed by meetings with other coaches and some players. She immediately clicked with the program, receiving an offer from SU in December 2021 and committing soon after.

“Her ability to use her voice and hold the team to a higher standard (stand out). (Leeggangers) listens very well, and she’s always playing with heart,” Farquhar said. “She speaks up in a huddle with what’s most important and that’s really challenging to do.”

Syracuse will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday against Harvard, where Leeggangers hopes to lead the team to its second championship in program history. The Orange have fallen in the quarterfinals two straight seasons, though Leeggangers plans to take SU further this time around.

“We take it game by game,” Leeggangers said. “Our goal is to win and play to the best of our abilities and, in the end, (win) a championship. We are definitely able to do that.”

Published on November 11, 2024 at 10:22 pm

Contact: jordankimball28@gmail.com | @JordanKimball_