BOONE, N.C. — Following a weather delay of over an hour, Baylie Phillips scored her first career game-winning goal to lift the App State field hockey team to a 1-0 victory over Bellarmine in its MAC opener.

Phillips netted the decisive score on a penalty corner play in the third quarter, deflecting a shot from Sophia Baxter past the goalkeeper to break the scoreless deadlock.

The App State (5-2, 1-0 MAC) defense suffocated Bellarmine (0-5) throughout the afternoon, allowing just one shot on goal and two total shots in the second half. Senior goalkeeper Dakota Anderson earned her third shutout of the season, stopping the lone shot she faced.

How it Happened
1st: The Mountaineers set the tone early by controlling possession, earning one penalty corner and forcing a save from the Knights' (0-5, 0-1 MAC) goalkeeper.

2nd: App State maintained relentless pressure, holding Bellarmine without a single shot in the frame. Despite putting two shots on target and generating three penalty corners, the Mountaineers were held off the board, heading into halftime tied 0-0.

3rd: App State elevated its intensity out of the break, firing four shots on goal and earning three penalty corners. The persistence paid off when Phillips tipped in Baxter's initial shot off a corner insert for the game's lone goal.

4th: The Mountaineers kept their foot on the gas to close out the victory, earning three additional penalty corners and forcing two saves. Yielding only a single off-target shot in the final 15 minutes, App State secured the 1-0 clean sheet to open MAC play with a win.

Match Notes
Goals: App State: Phillips (1) | Bellarmine: N/A
Assists: App State: Baxter | Bellarmine: N/A
Winning Goalkeeper: Dakota Anderson (5-2) — 1 save, 0 goals allowed
Losing Goalkeeper: Megan Clauser (0-5) — 9 saves, 1 goal allowed

Up Next
App State hits the road to face No. 13 Liberty on Sunday at 1 p.m., streaming live on ESPN+.

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