BOONE, N.C. – The App State Mountaineers (9-4, 4-1 MAC) will put their four-game winning streak to the test on Sunday as they travel to Charlotte, N.C., to face in-state rival Queens (0-13) at Bessant Field. First touch is slated for 1 p.m. and can be streamed
on Queens Athletics All Access.
After posting another road win on Friday against the Longwood Lancers, the Mountaineers are now 7-2 in games played away from Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field this season. App State has played all but four games on the road this year and are averaging 2.55 goals per game.
App State's defense continues to be the story for App State as they posted their second shutout of the season against the Lancers on Friday. The defensive unit is allowing less than a goal per game (0.89) in the nine wins this season, compared to four goals per game in losses. Head coach
Emily Dinsmore's defense has not allowed a goal in their last eight periods of play.
Fifth-year goalkeeper
Addie Clark was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week after her nine-save performance against Kent State, marking the third time she has been honored in her career. With her shutout on Friday, Clark has now posted nine shutouts in the last two years and 12 for her career.
Mountaineer freshmen have played big time minutes this season for App State and have delivered when they get opportunities. Coming into Sunday's matchup, App State freshmen have accounted for eight of the Mountaineers' 26 goals and eight of the 26 assists this season, which is good for 32% of the total point tally.
The Matchup
- Who: App State at Queens
- Where: Bessant Field // Charlotte, N.C.
- When: October 15 // 1 p.m.
Last Time Out
In one of their most complete games of the season, the Mountaineers prevailed 3-0 over Longwood in their last match thanks to their execution on penalty corners and their staunch defense. The win extended their season-long winning streak to four games.
Henriette Stegen played marvelous hockey against Longwood, posting her first career multi-goal game. Stegen scored a first-quarter goal and a fourth-quarter goal to help propel the Mountaineers to their second straight win over Longwood.
Sophomore forward
Hadley Kuzmicky continued her strong stretch of play, scoring a first-quarter goal against the Lancers for her fourth goal of the season. Kuzmicky, who scored her first career goal just under a month ago, now finds herself in the top 15 in the MAC in goals scored with all of them coming in the last seven games.
Scouting the Mountaineers
With Friday's win over the Lancers and Miami's loss to Kent State, App State finds itself in first place in the MAC with five games to play. The Mountaineers are playing some of their best hockey of the season and have vaulted themselves into prime position in the conference as the regular season winds down.
Defense has been the Mountaineers' calling card this season as App State is allowing less than a goal per game (0.89) in wins this season. Coming into play on Friday, the Mountaineers hold the second-lowest opponent goals-per-game average in the MAC, allowing just 1.85 goals per game. Fifth-year goalkeeper
Addie Clark currently boasts a 1.78 goals-against average, which is the second-lowest in the conference.
The Mountaineers feature a balanced attack on the offensive front with an impressive 12 players having found the back of the cage this season. Through the team's first 13 games, 15 players have recorded at least one point, while 14 of those 15 players have recorded two or more points.
Charlotte Bosma leads the Mountaineers in goals and points, having nailed four goals and recording 12 points overall.
App State comes into play on Friday leading the MAC in assists with 26.
Sarah Perkins,
Florine Koopman and
Charlotte Bosma have each dished out four assists while four others have recorded two or more assists.
Scouting the Royals
The Royals come into Sunday's matchup looking for their first win of the season. The Royals have scored just three goals through 13 games this season while allowing 77 goals, which is the most in the NCAA.
The head coach for the Royals is Brandi Kist, who spent nine seasons as the Mountaineer head coach. She has been the leader of the Queens program for the past seven years and has won 51 games with the Royals.
Series History
App State and Queens have met just once before, with the only matchup coming last October, when The Mountaineers blew out the Royals 10-1 at Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field. It was the first time since 1998 that the Mountaineers have scored 10 or more goals in a single game.
Five players on the 2023 team scored in last year's rout over the Royals, including two who tallied multi-goal games.
Bridget Donovan had a career day against Queens last year, scoring two goals and dishing out an assist for a five-point day.
Coach's Thoughts
"We are excited for another opportunity to play on Sunday," head coach
Emily Dinsmore said. "Getting to compete against an in-state opponent is always a fun challenge, and I can't wait to watch our girls take the field. Every day we get to compete and play together is a gift."
Up Next
After Sunday's non-conference tilt in Charlotte, the Mountaineers will jump back into MAC play next Friday when they travel to Muncie, Ind., to face the Ball State Cardinals. First touch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
