DURHAM, N.C. – App State field hockey (3-1) is headed across the state for a game at No. 16 Duke (2-2) on Friday at 6 p.m. The contest will air on ACCNx and live stats will be available to follow along.
The Mountaineers are playing their third straight game on the road, splitting the last two with a 1-0 victory over Rider in the second overtime period and a 2-1 loss to Drexel after a 3-2 penalty shootout.
App State's defense has proved its strength so far this season, allowing just two goals in its first four games, led by goalkeeper Addie Clark who leads the Mid-American Conference in goals against average (.441), save percentage (.909), shutouts (2) and goals allowed (2).
On the other side of the field, Friederike Stegen, the conference leader in goals (4), has scored one in every game the Mountaineers have played this season, including the game-winner at Rider in the 73rd minute after five scoreless periods.
Stegen is one of several Mountaineers that have had impressive offensive starts in 2022. Pauline Mangold and Anna Smarrelli rank second and third in the MAC standings with three goals apiece.
Carli Ciocco has recorded five assists, almost cracking the top-10 for single-season assists at App State through the first four games. The senior leads the conference in this category as well. Mangold and Ciocco have set up numerous opportunities for their teammates on corner plays so far this season.
The No. 16 ranked Blue Devils have split four games against top-20 opponents to open the season, defeating then No. 8 Rutgers and No. 16 Saint Joseph's at the Battle on the Banks before falling to No. 1 Northwestern and No. 3 Maryland at the annual ACC/Big 10 Cup.
Issy Carey and Hannah Miller have led the Duke offense, each with a goal and an assist so far on the young season. Defensively, goalkeeper Piper Hampsch has recorded seven saves per game and earned a save percentage of .737.
After Friday's game, the Black & Gold will have a short break before visiting assistant coach Azure Fernsler's alma mater, Kent State, on Sept. 18 to close out their string of road games and begin conference play.
