Mountaineers Host Ball State on Senior Day

The App State field hockey team takes on MAC opponent Ball State on Friday. The Mountaineers (7-6, 4-1 MAC) are looking to get back in the win column, previously falling to No.1 North Carolina last Sunday. The Mountaineers will play Ball State (3-8, 2-2 MAC) in Boone for the first time since 2022.
 
The Matchup

• Who: App State vs Ball State
• Where: Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex // Boone, N.C.
• When: October 18 // 6 p.m.

 
Last Time Out
The Mountaineers fell to the #1 North Carolina Tar Heels to a score of 0-5 last Sunday. The Mountaineers held firm early in the contest, limiting scoring chances the defending NCAA champions. Sunday's matchup against UNC was the first game played in Boone in a full 30 days.
 
Scouting the Mountaineers  
The Mountaineer offense has been stellar to begin the season, as they are third in the MAC in goals scored with 25. The Mountaineers lead the MAC in shots and penalty corners, putting pressure on defenses in the attack zone. Charlotte Bosma is second in the MAC with 30 shots on goal and is first in the conference in shots with 46. 
 
App State's defense has been stellar as well, not allowing many shots to be attempted. The Mountaineers have allowed 126 shots in 13 games, 108 less than the 234 the Mountaineers have attempted. Per game, the Mountaineers only allow 9.7 shots a game, a sharp contrast to the 18 for the Mountaineers. Senior goalkeeper Claire Grenis has anchored the Mountaineer defense, keeping opponents to 1.77 goals a game as a result. In their five-game winning streak, Grenis allowed only three goals past her while shutting out three opponents.
 
Mountaineers have taken home MAC Player of the Week honors five times in four weeks of play. Grenis and Bosma have each won the award twice, sweeping both week one and week four, while Florine Koopman recieved Player of the Week in week three for her two-goal performance against Davidson.
 
App State was picked to finish second in the 2024 MAC Conference standings by the league's coaches. The team tied for first in the MAC last season after once again, tying a program-record for wins in a season with 14 and rattling off a nine-game winning streak to end the regular season. 
 
Scouting the Cardinals
Ball State enters this matchup against the Mountaineers after coming off an 7-11 (2-5 MAC) season in 2023. The Cardinals will be led by head coach Caitlin Walsh, who is in her 3^rd year with the program.
 
Series History
This is the 16^th meeting between the Mountaineers and Cardinals, with App State trailing in the series 6-9. The Mountaineers last saw the Cardinals in a 2023 matchup, where App State defeated Ball State 1-0.
 
Up Next
The Mountaineers will stay in Boone to face off against MAC opponent Longwood next Friday. First touch at the Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex is slated for 6 p.m.