BOONE, N.C. — The App State field hockey team is set to begin its 2026 campaign in the High Country, hosting the Towson Tigers on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a matchup against the Georgetown Hoyas on Sunday at noon.
The Mountaineers are looking to build off a historic 2025 season, tying a program high of 14 wins while also earning their first-ever national ranking at No. 17 after defeating then-No. 18 James Madison on Sept. 28.
Both games can be watched live on the
App State Athletics YouTube channel, with live stats available at
appstatesports.com.
Be sure to arrive early for both games. Friday's season opener against Towson will feature App State merchandise giveaways. On Sunday, join us for Youth Day and JKMC Day against Georgetown, complete with snow cones and yard games.
Friday's Matchup
• Who: App State vs. Towson
• Where: Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex // Boone, N.C.
• When: Friday, Aug. 28, 6 p.m.
Sunday's Matchup
• Who: App State vs. Georgetown
• Where: Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex // Boone, N.C.
• When: Sunday, Aug. 30, noon
Scouting the Mountaineers
The Mountaineers retain key returners from the 2025 season, led by four-time 2025 Defensive Player of the Week
Sophia Baxter, along with fellow team captains
Kassie Paul and
Calista Schwartz, a Vancouver, Canada, native and member of the FIH Junior World Cup roster. Baxter and Schwartz were both named to the NFHCA Division I Watchlist, announced on Thursday.
App State has added impactful transfers to its 2026 roster, highlighted by fellow Canadian National Team player and Vancouver native
Rylie Novak, coming from Iowa.
Madie Baker, a junior who appeared in limited roles at Liberty, joins the team along with
Brynn Shaffer from Michigan State, who appeared in 15 games last season, tying for third in goals, assists and points for the Spartans. Hailing from Santa Rosa, Argentina, is
Amparo Figueroa, a junior forward from Converse University who was named 2025 First-Team All-SAC and led her team in goals (12), points (30), shots on goal (47) and game-winning goals (3), while finishing second in assists with six.
The Mountaineers have also added five freshman additions to the roster, headed by the sister duo of
Chloe Hook and
Morgan Hook, who both had illustrious careers at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, Pa. Joining them in this freshman class is fellow Pennsylvania native
Reagan Bailey from Dallastown Area High School, where she was named Offensive Player of the Year. The final two newcomers are
Jackie Kerner from Crofton, Md., where she won multiple Maryland state titles, and
Mai Hattori from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Scouting the Tigers
Towson enters the 2026 campaign after a 6-12 (2-3 CAA) season, ending the year losing its last five matchups. The Tigers return 11 players from last year's squad, adding 14 newcomers to the team while also retaining three All-CAA members from 2025. Towson is led by head coach Katie Gerzabek, who is entering her fourth year at the helm.
Scouting the Hoyas
Georgetown begins the 2026 season after a 5-12 overall season, recording a 1-6 record in Big East play. The Hoyas return 20 players from last year's squad, adding six newcomers to the roster. Their returners are highlighted by Elena Perez Alejandro, who was named to the preseason All-Big East team. Georgetown is led by head coach Christy Banks, who is entering her fifth year leading the program. The Hoyas will face Davidson in Davidson, N.C., to open their season.
Series History
• vs. Towson: This is the 14th all-time meeting between the Mountaineers and the Tigers, with App State holding an 8-5 advantage in the series. The Mountaineers have played the Tigers in the opening weekend each of the last five seasons, with App State taking wins in all of them. The highest score differential came in Towson, Md., with the Mountaineers taking a 7-1 win in the season opener in 2025. App State standout
Lise Boekaar ended that game responsible for all seven goals, scoring two and assisting on the other five.
• vs. Georgetown: This is the 17th all-time matchup between the Mountaineers and Hoyas, with App State edging Georgetown with a 9-7 record in the series. The Mountaineers have also faced Georgetown in the opening weekends of the past five seasons, with App State taking wins in the last four matchups. Playing in Towson, Md., in the second matchup of the 2025 season, App State took a 3-1 win, with Boekaar responsible for all three goals of the contest.
Up Next
The Mountaineers will hit the road to take on Davidson on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. in Davidson, N.C., in the first road test of the season.
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