Field Hockey Eyes Win Over American in Season Finale

Leopards look to avenge double-OT loss to defending PL champs

* Lafayette is looking to end the season on a high note on Sunday by earning a victory over defending Patriot League champion American when the two squads face each other for the second time this season for a 2 p.m. clash in Washington. The Leopards, who are coming off a 3-2 loss to Bucknell on the road last Sunday, faced the Eagles two weeks ago at Rappolt Field on Senior Day and gave them all they could handle before the Eagles came away with 2-1 double-overtime victory. Senior midfielder Audrey Sawers scored the lone goal for the Leopards in the first meeting.

* Sawers has shown off her scoring abilities this season, as she leads the Patriot League in goals with three and points with seven. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native has scored all of her goals in the last three games against Holy Cross, American and Bucknell, respectively. Sawers also had her lone assist against Holy Cross, as she provided the pass on sophomore Simone Hefting's game-winning goal in the 2-1 overtime victory.

* In their first meeting with the Eagles, the Maroon and White did what no Patriot team had accomplished up to that point in the season and that was limit American to only six shots at the cage. Before that contest, American had 37 shots, 11 of which were on goal, in two games. In addition, senior midfielder Anna Steps did not allow American's Noor Coenen, the 2019 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and 2020-21 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, to find the back of the cage.

* The Leopards will be trying to win their second game at American in program history. Lafayette's lone win in the Nation's Capital came back on Sept. 29, 2012, when it posted a 4-1 victory. The Leopards also topped American at nearby College Park, Md. back on Sept. 22, 2002, winning a 1-0 thriller in overtime. The last time the two teams met in D.C. was last season in the Patriot League Championship game, which American won, 3-2. Hefting and Tara Hamilton had assists in the title game for Lafayette.

* Hamilton has also been a key part to the Leopards' offense this year, scoring two goals of the team's six goals. Hamilton, who is also a North Vancouver, British Columbia native, is tied for second in the Patriot League in goals. Hamilton had her first goal against Boston U. on March 21 and her second score against Bucknell last Sunday.

* Freshman goalie Emma Garvey has shown flashes of great potential for the Leopards in goal. In her two games between the cage, Garvey has made eight saves, six of which came against Bucknell last Sunday. In that game, she made two saves late in the fourth period to keep the Patriots in the game and give them a chance to tie up the game in the final seconds.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Tara Hamilton: F; Sophomore

#23 Simone Hefting: D; Sophomore

#16 Audrey Sawers: M; Senior

#25 Anna Steps: M; Senior

#72 Emma Garvey: GK; 5' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#12 Tara Hamilton
: Sophomore
: F

#23 Simone Hefting
: Sophomore
: D

#16 Audrey Sawers
: Senior
: M

#25 Anna Steps
: Senior
: M

#72 Emma Garvey
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: GK