DAVIDSON, N.C. - Appalachian State field hockey opened the 2009 season in dramatic fashion Saturday, rallying from a 2-0 halftime defecit behind two goals from Nicole Morgan to defeat Sacred Heart 3-2 in overtime.

The Mountaineers found themselves in an early 1-0 hole after Sacred Heart's Chelsea Carlson scored the first of her two goals on a breakaway five minutes into the first half. Carlson followed with another goal in the 28th minute to put the Pioneers on top 2-0 at the intermission.

After several near misses in the early stages of the second half, Appalachian eventually found the back of the net in the 60th minute when Morgan connected with a shot from the top of the circle.

With only minutes remaining, it looked as if the Mountaineer rally would come up short as they trailed 2-1 and were unable to to find a crease in the Pioneer defense. That changed in the 65th minute when senior Kate Garnet evened the score with her first career goal off an assist from Lauren Kloeppinger.

In the extra frame, solid glove work by sophomore goalkeeper Bridgette Street kept the Apps in the game as she turned away two Sacred Heart shot attempts.

A Street save in the eighth minute of overtime led to a breakaway opportunity for the ASU, which they converted when Kloeppinger found Morgan streaking past the Pioneer defense to score the game-winning goal.

Saturday marked the third two-goal performance of Morgan's career in the Black and Gold, with the first coming against Georgetown her freshman year, and the second last season against Radford. Sophomore Lauren Kloeppinger enjoyed a career day against Sacred Heart as well, assisting on two goals including Morgan's game-winner.

The Mountaineers return to the field Sunday, looking for a 2-0 start to the '09 campaign when they take on the Ball State Cardinals at 11 am.