BOONE, N.C. – App State field hockey won its first conference game of the season Friday in a 2-1 victory over Ohio.
With the win, the Mountaineers improve to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
"It's always nerve-racking and the pressure is on when you have to win to get to the conference tournament, so this was a really big one for our team momentum," head coach Meghan Dawson said.
After a scoreless first half, Pauline Mangold struck first for the Mountaineers with a driving-goal in the third period.
Mangold now has two goals, two assists and a defensive save on the season. She is the only Mountaineer with both a goal and a defensive save on the fall campaign.
Friederike Stegen scored early in the fourth period to give App State a comfortable 2-0 lead. Stegen's goal, her second of the season, proved crucial when Noa Desmaretz scored for the Bobcats two minutes later to make it a one-goal game.
"Our team was putting a lot of pressure on them," Dawson said. "We had a couple individuals intercept, and we were reading the space as we worked through their defenders to put shots on goal."
App State doubled Ohio's shot effort 14-7. Six different Mountaineers recorded shots, with Anna Smarrelli and Stegen leading the way with four shots a piece.
After Friday's win, the Mountaineers look forward to their road trip next weekend. App State will face Ball State on Friday at 1 p.m. and Bellarmine on Sunday at noon.
