OXFORD, Ohio – Second-period goals from freshman
Pauline Mangold and junior
Veerle Van Heertum helped power Appalachian State University field hockey to a 2-0 victory over Central Michigan in the opening round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
With the win, App State (10-8) advances to face No. 3 seed Ohio (8-7) in a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. App State's win over Central Michigan also boosts the Mountaineers to 10 victories, which is its first season with 10 or more wins since 2003.
"We started off strong in the first period, and we kept a lot of pressure on them and didn't allow them to get out of our attacking end," head coach
Meghan Dawson said. "It was really crucial to capitalize with those two really good goals. We survive and advance, and our sights are on Ohio now."
The Mountaineers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute with Mangold's first goal in an App State uniform. Van Heertum fired the original shot off the penalty corner before Mangold used her stick to redirect the ball into the back of the goal cage.
Van Heertum, a 2019 First Team All-MAC recipient, would then tally her seventh goal of the season in the 27th minute off another App State penalty corner. Freshman
Madison Miles served as the stick stopper off Mangold's insert before Van Heertum blasted her shot into the back of the goal cage.
Appalachian held a 10-2 advantage in shots entering halftime, including a 7-1 edge in shots in the first period.
The Mountaineers would also outshoot the Chippewas 5-4 in the second half despite allowing five CMU (2-17) penalty corners in the final period.
Van Heertum led App State with seven shots and four shots on goal, finishing Wednesday's game with a goal and an assist. Sophomore
Anna Smarrelli ranked second on the team with three shots, firing two attempts on goal.
Senior goalkeeper
Rachel Gaines made three saves, including a crucial stop with seconds remaining in the first period to keep the game scoreless.
