BOONE, N.C.  – Appalachian State University field hockey faltered against the VCU Rams 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Brandon and Erica M. Adcock Field. For the second match in a row, junior Rebecca McLean scores App's only goal in the game; this tabs her second goal of the 2016 season.

“Today we did some good things, and we kind of went away from the game plan,” said head coach Meghan Dawson. “ We were strong in getting shots on goal, but we couldn't finish anything, and that really hurt us. Going forward, we have to focus on finishing our opportunities. We missed an open goal in the first couple of minutes, and I think that keeps hurting the spirit of the team as it goes on.”

VCU dominated the first half striking eight shots with six on goal and scoring off of three.

In the first fifteen minutes of the match, VCU smacked two quick goals into the net to give the Rams the early lead. In the sixth minute, VCU's Spencer Tossone tipped the ball past the goal line from a sharp pass by Emily McNamara off of a corner. Six minutes later on their second corner of the half, Alexis Albright dives into the goal area and tips the ball into the cage to raise the Rams' lead to 2-0.

After much aggression and multiple possession changes, VCU finds another opening three minutes before the half with Emily McNamara slamming in a goal from a cross pass by Krystal Mayers on the left side of the circle to extend their lead to 3-0.

Appalachian threatened to score many times in the first, providing six shots with four on goal and receiving three corner opportunities, but could not connect before the first buzzer. 

VCU began the second half with the same tenacity in the first, scoring in the 47th minute off a rebounded shot to give the Rams a 4-goal cushion. The Rams appeared to be running away with the victory until McLean blasted a shot into the cage off of a corner opportunity assisted by Savanna Sheridan.

“My goal did not go as planned,” said McLean. “ I was supposed to take the initial shot off the corner, but I passed the ball to Savanna, then I got back open, so she passed me the ball. I hit it towards the cage hoping someone would be there, but it ended up going in.”

With the score at 4-1, the Mountaineers were determined to shrink the gap, but the Rams pulled away in the 51st minute with their fifth goal to end the bout 5-1.

Offense

The Mountaineers generated many scoring opportunities but could not find the right openings to take the match. VCU held the advantage in shots (15-11), shots on goal (10-8), and corners (8-5).

Defense

Goalkeeper Rachel Gaines was the ringleader in this afternoon's matchup supplying five saves and protecting the net for 70:00 minutes.

Up Next

The Black and Gold will host the California Golden Bear on Friday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. and the No. 6 Louisville Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 25 at noon.