KENT, Ohio — Sophia Baxter scored a game-tying goal with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, and Brynn Shaffer converted a penalty corner in overtime to lift the App State field hockey team to a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Kent State on Sunday.

Morgan Hook scored her first collegiate goal in the second quarter to give App State (8-7, 4-3 MAC) an initial lead before Kent State (4-11, 3-4 MAC) responded with back-to-back goals to go ahead 2-1 in the fourth period. Senior goalkeeper Dakota Anderson anchored the defense with an eight-save effort to keep the Mountaineers within reach, setting up the late-game heroics for App State's second consecutive conference win.

How It Happened
1st: Both teams traded possession in a defensive opening frame, with each squad registering just one shot apiece in the scoreless period.

2nd: App State broke the tie midway through the second quarter. Kassie Paul fed Hook, who slotted home her first career goal to put the Mountaineers up 1-0. Kent State earned three penalty corners late in the frame, but Anderson held firm in the cage with three saves to maintain the lead into halftime.

3rd: The Golden Flashes came out of intermission aggressive, finding the equalizer and drawing three more penalty corners. Anderson logged three additional saves in the frame as the teams entered the fourth quarter deadlocked at 1-1.

4th: Kent State struck early in the fourth to take its first lead of the contest at 2-1. Trailing late, the Mountaineers generated a crucial penalty corner with under two minutes remaining. Off the set piece, Baxter lofted a shot over the Kent State goalkeeper into the cage to knot the game at 2-2 and force overtime.

OT: After trading possession in extra time, App State drew its third and final penalty corner of the match. Emma Livingston delivered the insert and Calista Schwartz provided the stick-stop, setting up Shaffer to drill the game-winner into the bottom left corner of the cage to seal the victory.

Match Notes
Goals: App State: Baxter (1), Hook (1), Shaffer (1) | Kent State: Knott (1), Usoz (1)
Assists: App State: Bailey (1), Fabian (1), Livingston (1), Paul (1), Schwartz (1) | Kent State: Duwel (1), Welsch (1)
Winning Goalkeeper: Dakota Anderson (8-7) — 8 saves, 2 goals allowed
Losing Goalkeeper: Michaela Skinner (4-11) — 2 saves, 3 goals allowed

Up Next
The Mountaineers will remain on the road, next taking on James Madison on Friday at 2 p.m.

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