BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State field hockey head coach
Meghan Dawson has announced the schedule for the 2019 season.
"I'm really excited for our 2019 fall schedule," Dawson said. "It poses some different competition that will challenge us and prepare us for conference play."
App State's schedule features 17 contests, including seven at Adcock Field, highlighted by a matchup against defending national champion North Carolina on Sept. 22.
The Mountaineers will also face another ACC opponent – Wake Forest – and battle their first Big 10 foe – Michigan – since 2014.
App State opens the season with three games on the road, kicking off the season at Towson on Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. The Black and Gold then close out the weekend trip with a noon contest at Georgetown on Sept. 1. Appalachian wraps up the three-game start away from home with a matchup against Lafayette College in Lynchburg, Va., on Sept. 6.
Appalachian returns to Adcock Field on Sept. 8, hosting Davidson at noon. In 2018, the Mountaineers completed a thrilling comeback to defeat Davidson 3-2 in overtime.
The Black and Gold then travel to Pennsylvania for games at Saint Francis on Sept. 13 and Lock Haven on Sept. 15. Appalachian dropped a tight contest to the Red Flash in overtime in 2018, while it will be the first time since 2016 the Mountaineers have faced the Bald Eagles.
After playing five of their first six games on the road, the Mountaineers enjoy their longest home stand of the season with four contests at Adcock Field. App State hosts Ohio on Sept. 20 to open Mid-American Conference action before concluding the weekend with a game against UNC on Sept. 22. The Apps host Miami on Sept. 27 and La Salle on Sept. 29 to close out the home stand.
App State then travels to Michigan for a pair of weekend matches, beginning with a MAC contest against Central Michigan on Oct. 4. The Mountaineers defeated the Chippewas twice in 2018, boasting a 4-0 record against Central Michigan since joining the MAC. Appalachian wraps up the trip in Ann Arbor against Michigan on Oct. 5.
MAC play continues for the Mountaineers on Oct. 12 at Longwood before App State hosts its final two games of the season. Appalachian hosts Saint Louis on Oct. 20 before playing its final home contest against Kent State on Oct. 25.
App State travels to Wake Forest for an in-state clash on Oct. 27 before closing out the regular season with a MAC contest at Ball State on Nov. 1.
All seven teams in the Mid-American Conference earn an invite to the MAC Tournament, which runs from Nov. 6-9 in Oxford, Ohio. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"Conference play will continue to be tough, and every game matters," Dawson said. "Now that all of the teams get a bid into the tournament, the matchups in the regular season are critical to having success in the postseason."
