OXFORD, Ohio — The App State field hockey team battled back-to-back MAC champions to the wire on Sunday afternoon, falling 2-1 to No. 16 Miami (Ohio).

Sophomore Ellie DeHart provided the offense for the Mountaineers (5-5, 1-2 MAC), scoring her first career goal off a centering pass from Brynn Shaffer.

The App State defense weathered heavy offensive pressure from the Redhawks (6-3, 3-0 MAC). Despite facing 24 shots and defending 14 penalty corners, the Mountaineers surrendered just two goals. Senior goalkeeper Dakota Anderson registered her third double-digit save performance of the season, recording 10 in the contest.

How it Happened
1st: Miami took an early lead, capitalizing on its first shot on goal to pull ahead 1-0. The Mountaineers struggled to establish an attack in the opening frame, failing to record a shot before heading into the second period down a goal.

2nd: App State defended all four Miami penalty corners in the second period to keep the deficit at one. Following a successful penalty corner stop, Sophia Baxter launched an aerial pass upfield to Shaffer, who immediately fed DeHart inside the circle to net the equalizer and send the game into halftime tied 1-1.

3rd: The Mountaineer defense held firm out of the break, successfully turning away four more Redhawk penalty corners to keep the match deadlocked. Anderson turned aside three shots in the period, bringing her total to seven through three quarters.

4th: Miami converted on its 12th penalty corner opportunity of the afternoon to regain a 2-1 lead. Despite pushing possession into the attacking third during the closing minutes, App State was unable to generate an equalizer before time expired.

Match Notes
Goals: App State: DeHart (1) | Miami: Intzes (1), Sabez (1)
Assists: App State: Shaffer (1) | Miami: Coughlin (1), Fernandez (1)
Winning Goalkeeper: Nicky Sjouken (6-3) — 0 saves, 1 goal allowed
Losing Goalkeeper: Dakota Anderson (5-5) — 10 saves, 2 goals allowed

Up Next
The Mountaineers will make a quick stop back in Boone to take on Ball State on Friday at 3 p.m. to resume conference play.

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