LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Sophomore
Friederike Stegen's goal in a penalty shootout boosted Appalachian State University field hockey to its sixth-straight win for the first time since 1985.
The Mountaineers (6-0) notched six-straight wins to conclude the 1985 season, capping off the run with a 1-0 victory over Wake Forest.
App State's shootout victory over Lock Haven (2-4) was the Black and Gold's first triumph over the Bald Eagles in program history. The Mountaineers also extended their shutout streak to three-straight games. Appalachian ranks first in the nation in shutout percentage, recording shutouts in five of its six games this season.
"Today was a battle, and both teams held it down defensively throughout the entire game," head coach
Meghan Dawson said. "I'm so proud of our team because everyone contributed on and off the field. Fredi also kept such great composure in the shootout to put the ball in the cage."
After two scoreless overtime periods, the Mountaineers and Bald Eagles entered a penalty shootout. Senior goalkeeper
Rachel Gaines denied the first four Lock Haven attempts before Stegen used a crafty spin move to tap in the eventual game-winner. Gaines stopped all five Lock Haven shooters, securing the App State victory with a block on Katie Supey's attempt from the right side of the circle.
The Mountaineers fired five shots in the first overtime period, earning their best chance off a penalty corner with less than three minutes remaining in the period. After the ball was inserted off the corner, junior
Veerle Van Heertum nailed the right post on a shot from the left side of the circle.
Gaines and App State's defense blanked the Bald Eagles despite facing 11 shots and six penalty corners. One of Lock Haven's best scoring opportunities came five minutes into the third quarter, where junior
Annette Jarosz used her stick to deny a shot off a penalty corner. Jarosz's second defense save of the season moves her into first place in program history with 13 career defense saves.
The Mountaineers recorded 10 shots, firing five of those shots on goal. Van Heertum led App State with four shots and two shots on goal. Stegen, senior
Michelle Taylor and freshman
Madison Miles each registered one shot on goal apiece.
With six more saves on Sunday, Gaines boosts her save percentage to .926 on the season. The Kettering, Ohio native sits just two stops behind Chelsea Dailey for the seventh-most saves in program history.
App State opens its longest home stand of the season on Friday with a game against Ohio (3-1). Friday's Mid-American Conference opener is set to begin at 6 p.m.
