MUNCIE, Ind. – Appalachian State University field hockey allowed a goal with less than one minute remaining in regulation in a 1-0 defeat at Ball State on Friday afternoon.
With Friday's result, App State (9-8, 1-5 MAC) will enter the Mid-American Conference Tournament as the No. 6 seed. The Mountaineers will play No. 7 seed Central Michigan in the opening round at noon on Wednesday.
The Mountaineers held a 12-10 shot advantage over Ball State (5-12, 3-3 MAC), including a 4-1 advantage in the third period. The Cardinals, however, earned a penalty corner with 57 seconds remaining, scoring the game-winning goal with just 49 seconds left in regulation.
App State applied pressure on Ball State early, outshooting the Cardinals 5-2 in the first period. Senior
Kaley Selner fired a shot just high of the cage in the 10
th minute. The senior finished Friday's game with two shots, both of which came in the first period.
Sophomore
Anna Smarrelli blasted a shot off a penalty corner in the 24
th minute, but Ball State's Wietske Overdijkink made the save to keep the game scoreless. Appalachian earned its final penalty corner in the third period, where junior
Meghan Smart recorded another shot on goal for the Mountaineers.
Seven Mountaineers registered shots on Friday, including four players with two shots or more. Smart led App State with three shots, two of which were on goal.
Junior
Annette Jarosz tallied her fifth defensive save of the season in the second quarter. Jarosz increases her career total to 16 defensive saves, which ranks first in App State history.
Senior goalkeeper
Rachel Gaines made seven saves in the goal cage for the Mountaineers.
