LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lafayette field hockey team evened the game at two apiece late in the third quarter on Friday night at Liberty in Lynchburg, Virginia, but Appalachian State found the winner late in the fourth quarter to down the Leopards by a final of 3-2.
 
The Maroon and White opened the scoring in the third minute on the second goal of the year from senior Sam Di Maio, but the Mountaineers caged the next two in the second and third quarters to lead by a 2-1 score into the final 20 minutes. Freshman Felicitas Hannes tied the game at 2-2 late in the third, but Appalachian State's Rachel Fleig found Meghan Smart in front with 3:24 left, and Smart beat Lafayette senior goalie Sarah Park for the game-winning score.
 
The loss drops Lafayette to 1-2 on the year, while improving the opposing side to 3-0. Park made four saves in the cage in defeat, while her counterpart, Rachel Gaines, stopped four Lafayette scoring chances.
 
The game was as even as a game can get with shots knotted at 13 apiece and five corners for each side. Junior Audrey Sawers led the Leopards in shots with three, including a team-high two on goal, while sophomore Molly McAndrew and senior Cameron Costello added a shot on goal apiece to accompany Di Maio and Hannes' chances. Costello also assisted on Di Maio's tally for her first point of the 2019 campaign.
 
The Maroon and White remain in Lynchburg to battle No. 20 Liberty on Sunday with first touch at 12 pm.