EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette field hockey team allowed a goal midway through the third period and could not capitalize on a few late scoring chances, resulting in a 1-0 loss to rival Lehigh in its season opener Sunday afternoon at Rappolt Field.

The Leopards (0-1, 0-1), who were coming off a 12-8 campaign in 2019 that saw a trip to the Patriot League Tournament championship game for the first time since 2012, were looking to start their condensed six-game season with another victory over the Mountain Hawks (1-0, 1-0) after winning 15 of the previous 16 meetings in The Rivalry since 2006. The only defeat in that stretch was a 1-0 loss in overtime in 2017.

In the first half, the Leopards had controlled most of the offensive possession, outshooting the Mountain Hawks, 4-2, with three of their shots and two penalty corners coming in the second period. Unfortunately, junior Molly McAndrew had a shot saved by Lehigh goalie Maddie Kahn and sophomore Felicitas Hannes had two consecutive shots go wide of the cage, keeping the game scoreless at halftime.

But, Lehigh scored the eventual game-winning goal 10 minutes into the third period off a penalty corner.

After the goal, the Maroon and White tried to rally in the final period by earning four penalty corners and taking three shots. 

Sophomore Simone Hefting took the first shot for the Leopards 40 seconds into the period on a penalty corner, but it went wide. Eleven minutes later, junior Alix Talkow had the chance to put in the equalizer on a breakaway, but her shot was saved by Kahn.

The Leopards' final shot of the day came from Hefting with two minutes left on a penalty corner, but her shot was blocked by a Lehigh defender. 

The Leopards will try to rebound next Sunday when they host Boston University for a 1 p.m. clash.