BOONE, N.C. — After splitting its first road games of the season, the App State field hockey team looks ahead to Wednesday, when it will take on Queens in its final midweek game of the season, followed by its first ranked matchup of the year against No. 6 Wake Forest on Sunday.
The Mountaineers (3-1) recently suffered their first loss of the season against American, falling in the fourth quarter when the Eagles scored the go-ahead goal.
Chloe Hook scored her third goal in three games for the Mountaineers, slotting the ball past the keeper and into the cage to tie the contest at one.
Senior goalkeeper
Dakota Anderson picked up 12 saves over the weekend, tallying six in each game, bringing her season total to 21, along with two shutouts and three goals allowed.
Wednesday's Matchup
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Who: App State vs. Queens
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Where: Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex // Boone, N.C.
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When: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m.
Sunday's Matchup
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Who: App State vs. No. 6 Wake Forest
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Where: Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex // Boone, N.C.
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When: Sunday, Sept. 13, noon
Scouting the Mountaineers
App State has opened the season 3-1 without scoring a goal in the first three quarters of play in its victories, taking two overtime wins over opening weekend against Towson and Georgetown. Freshman Hook leads the Mountaineers in goals scored with three on the season, with each coming over the last three contests.
The Mountaineers retain key returners from the 2025 squad, 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.
App State has added impactful transfers to its 2026 roster, highlighted by fellow Canadian National Team player and Vancouver native
Rylie Novak, who transferred from Iowa. Junior
Madie Baker, who saw action at Liberty, joins the team along with
Brynn Shaffer from Michigan State, who appeared in 15 games last season while tying for third in goals, assists, and points for the Spartans. Hailing from Santa Rosa, Argentina, is
Amparo Figueroa, a junior forward transfer from Converse University who earned 2025 First-Team All-SAC honors after leading her team in goals (12), points (30), shots on goal (47), and game-winning goals (3), while finishing second with six assists.
The Mountaineers have also added five freshmen to the roster, headlined 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 the 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 Royals
Queens enters the matchup 1-2, falling to Richmond 12-0 in its season opener and recently to MAC opponent Ohio, but picked up its first win over Longwood, 3-1. The Royals return 12 players from last year's squad while adding eight newcomers to the 2026 team. Queens is led by head coach Brandi Kist, who is in her 11th season at the helm.
Scouting the Demon Deacons
No. 6 Wake Forest enters Sunday's matchup 2-1. Despite falling in overtime to No. 11 Iowa in their season opener, the Demon Deacons picked up a ranked shutout win against No. 14 Michigan and a dominant 6-1 victory over Ohio most recently. Wake Forest had five players earn a spot on the NFHCA Division I Watchlist, highlighted by reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mia Montag. Wake Forest is led by head coach Jennifer Averill, who is in her 33rd year leading the program.
Series History
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vs. Queens: This marks the fifth all-time meeting between the Mountaineers and the Royals, who have played in each of the last four seasons, with App State leading 4-0 in the series. In the last matchup between the two programs last season, the Mountaineers took a 6-0 win on the road. Baxter found the back of the cage in that game, and the Mountaineers generated 20 penalty corners.
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vs. Wake Forest: This marks the 57th all-time meeting between the Mountaineers and the Demon Deacons, who have played in each of the last five seasons, with App State trailing 17-38-1 in the series. In last year's matchup, the Mountaineers fell 3-0 on the road, with the Demon Deacons holding the same No. 6 ranking as they do in 2026.
Up Next
The Mountaineers will remain in the High Country for their MAC opener, hosting Bellarmine on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.
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