BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University field hockey (9-7, 1-4 MAC) travels to Ball State (4-12, 2-3 MAC) on Friday for its final matchup of the regular season. Friday's contest in Muncie, Ind., between the Mountaineers and Cardinals is set to begin at 3 p.m.
About the Mountaineers
The Mountaineers celebrated Senior Night before Friday night's matchup against Kent State, honoring seniors
Ashton Coley,
Lydia Bullock,
Michelle Taylor,
Kaley Selner,
Melissa Nobile,
Ali Williams and
Rachel Gaines. The Golden Flashes would go on to notch a 3-0 victory, scoring twice in the second period to grab a 2-0 lead entering halftime.
Appalachian fired eight shots against the Flashes, including two each from juniors
Meghan Smart and
Veerle Van Heertum. Senior goalkeeper
Rachel Gaines made 10 saves in her final game at Adcock Field.
App State then traveled to Winston-Salem to take on No. 20 Wake Forest. The Black and Gold trailed by just a single goal entering halftime, but the Demon Deacons used four second-half goals, including three scores in the final 16 minutes, to secure a 5-0 win. Sophomores
Friederike Stegen and
Sydney Lee along with Smart and freshman
Carli Ciocco recorded shots on goal for the Mountaineers.
Van Heertum and Smart remained tied for first on the team in points (14) and goals (six). Smart also ranks first in shots (39) and shots on goal (25). Stegen's passing ability in the midfield helps her rank first in assists (six) on the App State roster.
The Mountaineers also concluded their nonconference competition on Sunday, finishing 8-3 against nonconference opponents. App State started 6-0 this season, securing four wins over Atlantic 10 opponents and two victories over Big East adversaries.
Scouting Ball State 4-12 (2-3 MAC)
Ball State moved to 2-3 in Mid-American Conference play with a 2-1 overtime victory at Longwood on Friday. Redshirt junior Rachel Pereira recorded the game-winning goal less than a minute into overtime, burying an effort off a penalty corner. Ball State's other conference triumph came at home on Sept. 28 in a 2-0 win over Central Michigan. The Cardinals also registered shutout victories over Davidson and Saint Louis earlier this season. Ball State's defense has been stout all season long, allowing just six goals in five conference matchups. The Cardinals, however, have struggled to put the ball in the goal cage, scoring just 14 goals in 16 games. Redshirt senior Michelle Shampton leads the Cardinals with four goals and 12 points on just nine shot attempts. Freshman Jennika Park paces Ball State with five assists. Three student-athletes have earned time in the goal cage for the Cardinals – freshman Wietske Overdijkink, junior Grace Chavez and redshirt junior Alison McMullen. Chavez ranks first out of the trio with 51 saves, while Overdijkink has been the goalie of record in three of four victories this season.
Series History
Ball State – App State has faced Ball State nine times since 2009, holding a 3-6 record against the Cardinals. The Mountaineers secured back-to-back victories in the series away from Boone with a 4-3 win in 2010 and a 2-0 victory in 2012. Appalachian also defeated Ball State in its first MAC season, defeating the Cardinals 3-2 in Muncie, Ind. Smart, Van Heertum and former Mountaineer Taylor Cimbalist recorded scores for the Mountaineers. Ball State defeated the Mountaineers in the most recent matchup this past season, scoring a 1-0 win in overtime at Adcock Field.
What's Next
The Mountaineers will enter postseason play at the Mid-American Conference Tournament starting next week. Depending on conference results on Friday and Saturday, App State will begin postseason play either on Nov. 6 in the opening round or on Nov. 7. The MAC Tournament will be held in Oxford, Ohio.
