TOWSON, Md. – The App State field hockey team will kick off the 2023 campaign with a road trip to Towson, Md. where they will face the Towson Tigers on Friday at 4 p.m. This will be the second consecutive season that App State will open regular season play against the Tigers.
This will be a homecoming for several members of the team this weekend.
Sophia Baxter,
Bridget Donovan,
Rachel Fleig and head coach
Emily Dinsmore are all from Maryland and will be playing in their home state in front of several friends and family members.
"I couldn't ask for a better atmosphere," head coach
Emily Dinsmore said. "Playing our first game in Maryland with all of our friends and family cheering us on is going to be something special."
The Matchup
- Who: App State at Towson
- Where: TU Field Hockey Complex // Towson, Md.
- When: August 25 // 4 p.m.
Scouting the Mountaineers
Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, culminating in the program's first-ever MAC championship game appearance, the Mountaineer field hockey team will look to build off a historic season under newly minted head coach
Emily Dinsmore.
App State was picked to finish third in the 2023 MAC Conference standings by the league's coaches. The team finished third in the MAC last season after tying a program-record for wins in a season with 14 and rattling off a 10-game winning streak, which was the second longest winning-streak in program history.
The 2023 Mountaineer squad will feature five players who garnered All-MAC selections in 2022. Forward
Sarah Farrell and goalkeeper
Addie Clark earned All-MAC second-team honors, while the trio of
Lise Boekaar,
Henriette Stegen and
Bridget Donovan were named to the All-MAC Freshman team. The 2023 team will also feature eight newcomers to the high country.
The Mountaineers led the MAC in shutouts in 2022 with seven. The defense was anchored by senior defender
Grace Ball, who played in every minute of every game last season, and
Addie Clark, who finished second in the MAC in both save percentage (0.779) and goals against average (1.09).
Ball and Clark will serve as team captains of the 2023 squad. Ball was a team captain last year, while Clark served as the vice-captain.
Scouting the Tigers
Towson enters this matchup against the Mountaineers after coming off a 5-13 (1-5 CAA) season in 2022. The Tigers will be led by head coach Katie Gerzabek Salem, who is in her first season with the program.
10 players on the 2023 Towson roster played in last year's loss to App State. Fifth-year midfielder Georgia Beachley scored the lone goal for the Tigers in that match.
Series History
App State defeated Towson in Boone in last year's season opener 4-1. Currently, the Mountaineers are on a five-game winning streak in the all-time series against the Tigers and are 5-5 overall.
10 players saw the field against the Tigers in 2022.
Lise Boekaar,
Bridget Donovan,
Grace Ball,
Sarah Farrell and
Addie Clark all played over 30 minutes and helped lead App State to a season-opening win.
Rachel Fleig and
Sarah Farrell have each played three games against Towson in their careers. Farrell recorded an assist and two shots-on-goal against the Tigers in 2019 and is the only player on the active roster with a point versus the Tigers.
Coach's Thoughts
"I want to see a team that has each other's back no matter what," Dinsmore said. "I want to see our team be gritty in the attacking circle and strong in the defensive 25. We want to be known for our work ethic and our never give up mentality."
Up Next
The Mountaineers will stay in Maryland to take on the Georgetown Hoyas in a neutral site contest. Georgetown will act as the home team, but the match will be played at Towson. First touch against the Hoyas is set for Sunday at 2 p.m.
