(1-4)     1 2 Final  Lafayette 2 2 4  Liberty 1 1 2 Box Score (4-1)  

 

EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette field hockey team pulled away in the second half to christen the new turf at Rappolt Field with a 4-2 win over Liberty on Friday evening.

With the game tied at two goals apiece and just 13 minutes left to play in the game, freshman Ellen Colbourne found herself with some open space to the right of the cage at the top of the circle. Colbourne fired to the top right corner and past the pad of Liberty goalie Mallory Cuccio to take the 3-2 advantage.

Just six minutes later, junior Hannah Millen was given the opportunity at an insurance goal when the Leopards were given a penalty stroke. Millen went top shelf to the right of the keeper and converted to seal the victory at 4-2.

"Overall, I think it was a really great performance by our team," head coach Jennifer Stone said. "I was really pleased across the board with the team's performance. In particular, our midfield and backfield lines were fantastic and Jenna Seybert came up with some really critical plays when we needed them. It's a great win against a very good Liberty team and I feel good about the way our team is playing heading into Penn State on Sunday."

The Flames got on the board just seven minutes into the contest when Sarah Gipe's shot from the top of the circle found its way to the back of the cage off assists from Bethany Barr and Ashlee Krulock for the 1-0 lead.

The Leopards knotted it up in the 20^th minute when senior Kelsey Mead found herself in the right place at the right time. Seybert fired a shot on goal that was initially saved but freshman Rosie Shanks kept the ball alive and Mead found the ball in the air at the goal mouth and spiked it across the line to tie it at one.

Five minutes later, Seybert tallied a goal of her own when her rocket off a corner skidded past Cuccio's foot and sent the game to half with Lafayette holding a 2-1 lead. A Liberty goal in the 38^th minute knotted it at two but Colbourne and Millen's markers were decisive in the 4-2 victory.

Senior Jessica Deutsch made four saves between the pipes for the Leopards, while Seybert also notched a defensive save in relief. On the other side, Cuccio tallied two saves in defeat. Liberty led the way in shots, 15-8, but the Maroon and White worked seven penalty corners compared to just four for the Flames.

Lafayette travels to State College, Pa. on Sunday to take on Penn State at 1 p.m.