Mountaineers Fall to VCU in Overtime

RICHMOND, Va. – The App State Field Hockey team fell to the VCU Rams 3-2 in Richmond, Va., on Sunday.
 
Despite the Mountaineers (2-2) coming from behind in regulation and taking the lead, a late fourth-period goal from the Rams (2-1) would force overtime, where the Rams would beat the Mountaineers with a 61st-minute score.
 
App State's Frederique Grimbergen and Kassie Paul would start in the first games of their collegiate careers, playing meaningful minutes in Sunday's matchup.
 
How it Happened
1st: The first period began tight for both teams, with the Mountaineers putting the offensive pressure on the Rams, ending the first period with five shots to their zero. App State would have chances at goal but would struggle to find the back of the cage. The period would end scoreless for both teams heading into the second.  

2nd: It would be more back-and-forth play in the second, with the Rams getting on the scoreboard first at the end of the period. VCU freshman Ella Fehr would score the first goal of her collegiate career, giving the Rams the lead going into halftime. App State would finish the period with zero shots to the Rams' five.

3rd: It was tight to begin the period until Bridget Donovan's first goal of the season tied the game at one apiece 38th minute. It was a competitive period, as both squads finished the period with five shots apiece. In the dying embers of the third period, Sophia Baxter converted on a penalty stroke, giving the Mountaineers a 2-1 lead as play progressed into the fourth period.
 
4^th/OT: The Mountaineers would maintain their tight lead for the majority of the final period until a goal from VCU's Maggie Goodwin tied the game with under two minutes in regulation. The Rams were aggressive offensively, getting five shots and two goals in the fourth period and overtime. The Rams would score a goal early in the overtime period to defeat the Mountaineers 3-2.
 
Match Notes
Goals
App: Donovan (1), Baxter (1)
VCU: Fehr (1), Goodwin (1), Padgett (1)
 
Assists
App: N/A
VCU: Afonso Osorio (1), Radel (2)
 
Winning Goalie – Emma Clements (2-1): 4 saves, 2 goals allowed  
Losing Goalie – Claire Grenis (2-2): 3 saves, 3 goals allowed

Up Next
The Mountaineers will return to Boone to face Wake Forest on Friday. First touch is slated for 6 p.m.