BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University field hockey (1-3) slipped to the Lafayette Leopards 2-1 on Saturday evening at the JMU Field Hockey Complex in Harrisonburg, Va. Ali Williams scored Appalachian's lone goal of the match, her team-high third of the season.
Lafayette (2-0) took an early 1-0 lead in the 9th minute on a goal off a penalty corner. The Mountaineers worked to get four penalty corners and make nine first-half shots, but the Lafayette goalkeeper Sarah Park made five saves to keep the score 1-0 going into the half.
In the first 18 minutes of the second half, the Leopard offense put plenty of pressure on Gaines with nine shots over that span. The Appalachian goalkeeper deflected five of those shots, but would allow a goal in the 53rd minute for a 2-0 Lafayette lead.
Just five minutes later, Williams cut the deficit in half after sending a penalty corner rebound to the back of the net.
Lafayette would only allow just one Mountaineer shot by Melissa Nobile in the remaining 12 minutes of play that was blocked. Out of a timeout with 20 seconds remaining, head coach Meghan Dawson emptied the net hoping to tie the match up. Lafayette held its defensive stance and came away with a 2-1 victory.
OFFENSE
In the first half, the Mountaineers held a three-shot advantage over the Leopards with 10 shots to Lafayette's seven. Appalachian also earned four corner opportunities, and Lafayette received one.
In the second half, Lafayette dominated Appalachian's side of the field shooting 13 shots to App State's four and earned nine penalty corners to Appalachian's two.
DEFENSE
Gaines protected the net for 69 minutes and 40 seconds and made eight saves, which included six second-half deflections.Â
UP NEXT
The Mountaineers return home to host Davidson on Friday, Sept. 8. The home-opener at Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.Â
