ATHENS, OHIO – App State field hockey is set for its final weekend of the regular season, with a high-stakes contest at Ohio on Friday at 2 p.m. before traveling to Davidson for the team's final nonconference game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
If the Mountaineers win on Friday, they will clinch a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, which is set to take place at Miami (OH) on Nov. 4-5.
Friday's game will be streamed live on Ohio's YouTube channel and Sunday's contest will air on ESPN+. Live stats will be available for both games.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS (11-5, 4-2 MAC)
A win on Friday would also mean the second-longest winning streak of all time for App State, as the squad has won its last seven straight games. The Mountaineers continued their success last weekend with a double-overtime win over Ball State and a 10-goal showing against Queens.
Friederike Stegen has been all over the field for App State this season, tallying 30 points made up of 12 goals and six assists. Last weekend, she assisted the game-winning goal against Ball State and later had a career-high four assists against Queens. Those four assists were the second-most by any Divison I player in a single game this season.
Anna Smarrelli and Pauline Mangold have been consistent forces on offense all season. Smarrelli has earned nine goals and one assist, and Mangold has scored six goals and assisted eight.
Lise Boekaar, Fien Zwaan and Bridget Donovan are all freshmen who have been enormous assets for the Black & Gold this season. Boekaar has earned three goals and four assists, starting in 13 of her 16 games. Zwaan has started 13 games on defense, helping the Mountaineers to five shutouts, and Donovan has scored five goals and assisted two.
Addie Clark is one of the top goalkeepers in the nation this year, ranking in the top 10 in goals allowed per game with 1.11, and is No. 14 in save percentage at a rate of .782, ranking second in the MAC in both categories while leading the conference in shutouts with five.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS (8-8, 3-3 MAC)
Ohio has been right next to App State in the standings this season, defeating MAC opponents Longwood 3-2, Central Michigan 2-0 and Bellarmine 4-0. The Bobcats fell in games against Miami, Kent State and Ball State.
Mijntje Ligtenberg and Katelyn Whittle have led the Bobcat offense this season, scoring seven goals apiece through their first 16 games. Ligtenberg is a freshman who had her biggest game against Longwood when she scored two goals to lift her team over the Lancers. She has also assisted eight goals throughout the fall. Whittle has proved her ability to score in high doses, having scored three goals against Central Michigan and two against Bellarmine.
Nele Graner has been the primary goalkeeper for Ohio this season, earning a save percentage of .720 and allowing 2.59 goals per game. As a team, the Bobcats have shut out five opponents this year.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS (4-13, 0-6 A-10)
Davidson most recently defeated Ball State 4-1 in an impressive rebound game after 13 straight losses. The Wildcats started the season 3-0 with wins over Georgetown, Towson and Queens before the losing spell began.
Charlie Kabelac has created a significant portion of Davidson's offense this season, scoring seven goals and assisting five. She played all 60 minutes in the win over Ball State, scoring two of the Wildcats' four goals. Kabelac has started in all 17 games.
Defensively, Davidson has rolled out three different goalkeepers this season, earning an overall save percentage of .674 and allowing an average of 2.71 goals per game. The squad's lone shutout was in its season opener against Georgetown.
