MUNCIE, IND. - Appalachian State University field hockey (8-8, 3-3 MAC) won its fourth straight game with a 3-2 victory at Ball State on Saturday afternoon.
The Mountaineers improved to 8-8 overall and finished Mid-American Conference play with a 3-3 record. With the win, App State remains fourth in the MAC standings behind Longwood (11-4, 4-2) and ahead of Ohio (4-10, 2-3).
Appalachian owns a 5-1 record in the month of October with its only setback coming to then No. 15 Wake Forest. Over that stretch, App State has outscored its opponents 16-10 with three shutouts and boasts a perfect 3-0 record on the road.
Ball State (4-11, 0-4) opened up the scoring at 14:47 in the first half when Hillary Scott scored off a penalty corner. The Mountaineers would respond just five minutes later with their own penalty-corner score when freshman
Veerle Van Heertum netted her second goal of the season. Seniors
Taylor Cimbalist and
Savanna Sheridan were credited with the assist. The score would remain 1-1 going into the half.
Another Mountaineer freshman in
Meghan Smart scored what would end up being the game-winning goal just seven minutes into the second half.
Cimbalist got in on the scoring in the 53rd minute when her senior classmate,
Rebecca McLean, assisted her 11th goal of the season. The Cardinals would get within one goal, but the Mountaineers powered through for a 3-2 win.
The App State defense allowed just four Ball State shots with three being on target as goalkeeper
Rachel Gaines protected the net with one save. Appalachian had 11 shots (10 on goal) and received eight penalty corners.
The Mountaineers will gear up for their final weekend of the regular season that includes a matchup at No. 2 Duke on Saturday, Oct. 28, and Senior Day against American on Sunday, Oct. 29.
