MUNCIE, Ind. - Appalachian State University field hockey was down by two on two separate occasions and was able to cut the deficit to one both times, but homestanding Ball State held on for the 3-2 victory.

"Today was a tough game for us," said head coach Meghan Dawson. We didn't play the way we wanted to in the first half, but picked it up in the second half. Ball State played us tough and their desire to win was evident."

The Mountaineers fell to 1-4 on the season while the Cardinals captured their first win of the season to improve to 1-6. Each team had eight shots, App State held the advantage in corners 7-5 and the home team had two saves compared to the visitors' one.

Ball State scored twice in the first 21 minutes of action before Appalachian State began to collect itself. Caroline Phillips scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season off a penalty corner thanks to a Taylor Cimbalist helper in the second half (42nd minute). Cimbalist now leads the squad in assists with six.

After the hosts went back up 3-1 in the 51st minute with Lexi Kavanaugh's second goal, the Mountaineers' Micaela Diedericks cut the Cardinals' lead back to one, 3-2, with a goal on Jordan Van Cleave's cross across the circle in the 66th minute. However, the away team ran out of gas there and that's where the score stood at the final buzzer.

C. Phillips and Diedericks led App State in shots with two apiece. 

Next up, the Apps travel to Athens, Ohio for a 1 p.m. start at Ohio on Sunday.