BOONE, N.C. - For the first time since Oct. 21, 2010, Appalachian State University field hockey shut out Davidson and did so by a score of 2-0 on senior day at Brandon and Erica M. Adcock Field.
"This is a huge win for us as a program and team," said head coach Meghan Dawson. "Davidson is a talented team that works really hard on and off the ball and challenges you to every reception."
The Mountaineers improved to 4-8 on the season after winning their second-straight home game for the first time since 2010 when they won a stretch of three straight in Boone (Sept. 25 - Oct. 1). App State also avenged a 7-0 exhibition loss to the Wildcats on Aug. 22 at Davidson. On the other side, the Wildcats dropped to 7-6 for the fall and have lost two of their last three.
Dawson continued, "In our preseason meeting, they dominated us when we played and this win truly shows how much progress we have made in such a short amount of time."
Neither team scored in a first period that became more and more of a defensive struggle as the clock ticked. When the buzzer sounded for halftime, App State held a slim advantage in both shots (7-5) and penalty corners (6-5) but the visitors had put more shots on goal (6-2).
21 minutes and change into the second half, Micaela Diedericks took the ball down the center of the field on a fast break, dished it to Taylor Cimbalist who deposited the ball into the back-right corner of the cage to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
Just over six minutes later, the same tandem put Appalachian up 2-0 when Cimbalist crossed from the right and Diedericks tapped it in. For the season, Cimbalist now has three goals and nine assists while Diedericks is responsible for five scores and three helpers. Those nine dimes moved Cimbalist into second place in the program's single-season record book.
In goal, Cristina Ceppi shined bright on her senior day and recorded her first shutout of the season and second of her career. The senior stopper recorded six saves and up to this point, has logged all 840 minutes in the cage for App State. The Wildcats' top scorer coming in, Melissa Funsten, was held to one shot for only the third time this season.
Caroline Phillips led the offensive attack with six shots while Rebecca McLean tallied three and Abby Carls, Diedericks and Cimbalist each had one apiece.
The five other seniors recognized prior to the start of the match included Robbi Jensen, Charlotte Kirwan, Anna Copsey, Hanna French, and C. Phillips.
"We were lucky to be able to honor our seniors today who have put in so much time and effort these past four years," added Dawson. "I am lucky to have had them for this fall."
Next up, the Apps will head back out on the road for the first time in nearly a month when they travel to Longwood on Friday, Oct. 16. That match is set to begin at 5 p.m. in Farmville, Va.
