Mountaineers Travel to Kent State in MAC Semifinals Rematch

BOONE – The App State field hockey team takes on Kent State on Friday at 2 p.m. The Mountaineers (6-3, 3-0 MAC) are looking to extend the win streak to five, last defeating the Bellarmine Knights on Sept. 30. Friday's matchup against Kent State (2-7, 2-0 MAC) is the first meeting since the 2023 MAC Field Hockey semifinals.
 
The Matchup

• Who: App State vs Kent State
• Where: Murphey-Mellis Field // Kent, Ohio
• When: October 4 // 2 p.m.

 
Last Time Out
The Mountaineers defeated the Bellarmine Knights to a score of 3-0 last Monday. Bridget Donovan, Franziska Heyltjes and Frederique Grimbergen found the back of the cage in their last matchup. The Mountaineer defense held firm, tallying the fourth shutout of the season, a MAC high. The Knights did not get single shot up in the game, with the Mountaineers out-shooting Bellarmine 28-0. Heyltjes scored the first goal of her collegiate career, scoring the second goal in Monday's matchup against Bellarmine.
 
Scouting the Mountaineers  
The Mountaineer offense has been stellar to begin the season, tying a MAC high of 24 goals on the season. The Mountaineers lead the MAC in shots and penalty corners, putting pressure on defenses in the attack zone. Charlotte Bosma leads the MAC with 27 shots on goal, while being tied for third in the conference in goals with four.
 
The Mountaineer defense has been solid this season, allowing a conference low 12 goals on the season. In the Mountaineers last matchup against Bellarmine, the Knights were held shotless on the game, not testing Claire Grenis in goal in the game. Grenis has posted a MAC high four shutouts on the season, with the best goals against average in the conference.
 
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 Golden Flashes
Kent State enters this matchup against the Mountaineers after coming off an 8-11 (5-2 MAC) season in 2023. The Golden Flashes will be led by head coach Heather Hefner, who is in her first year with the program.
 
Series History
This is the 15^th matchup against Kent State, with a record of 2-12. The Mountaineers faced off against Kent State twice last year, one in the regular season and the other in the MAC tournament. The Mountaineers defeated Kent State 2-1(SO) on Oct.6, followed by a loss on Nov. 3 in the MAC tournament.
 
Up Next
The Mountaineers will hit the road to face No.18 Liberty Flames on Sunday. First touch in Lynchburg, Va. Is slated for noon.