BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University field hockey honored its seven senior student-athletes before Friday night's 3-0 setback to Kent State.
The Mountaineers (9-6, 1-4 MAC) welcomed family, friends and App State faculty members on a beautiful night at Adcock Field to join in the Senior Night festivities. App State honored seven senior student-athletes, comprising
Ashton Coley,
Lydia Bullock,
Michelle Taylor,
Kaley Selner,
Melissa Nobile,
Ali Williams and
Rachel Gaines. The Mountaineers also honored practice player Noah den Hartog before Friday's contest.
"I'm so proud of our group of seniors, and they have been strong all four years," head coach
Meghan Dawson said. "When you talk about the saying 'give your all for App State,' they truly have done that. On and off the field, these ladies try to push themselves constantly. I'm sad to see them go, but I'm really proud of all the growth that they've had."
Kent State (10-6, 5-0 MAC) jumped ahead early in the second period with a goal from Maria Cambra Soler off a penalty corner. The Golden Flashes would then double their lead with another goal from Cambra Soler off a penalty corner in the 27
th minute, taking a 2-0 lead into halftime.
The Mountaineers tied the Flashes in shots in the second half, firing three shots each in the third and fourth quarters. Junior
Veerle Van Heertum delivered one of App State's best goal-scoring opportunities in the 33rd minute, blasting a shot off a penalty corner that Kent State's goalkeeper denied with her stick. The Flashes then extended their lead to 3-0 two minutes after Van Heertum's blistering attempt.
Van Heertum and fellow junior
Meghan Smart tied with a team-high two shots. Taylor notched App State's first shot on goal in the first period, while freshman
Allison Corey recorded her second shot on goal of the season in final period.
Gaines made 10 saves in the goal cage in her final start at Adcock Field. The senior now has 440 career saves, which ranks sixth in App State history.
App State returns to action on Sunday when it travels to No. 20 Wake Forest (7-8). The game in Winston-Salem is set to begin at 1 p.m.
