By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State field hockey team defeated the Ball State Cardinals by a score of 3-1, on Senior Night.
The Mountaineers (8-6, 5-1 MAC) came into the Oct. 18 matchup after previously falling to North Carolina, and with the win against Ball State (3-9, 2-3 MAC), the Mountaineers clinched a spot in the 2024 MAC Field Hockey Tournament.
Henriette Stegen, Kassie Paul and Bridget Donovan all found the back of the cage, helping improve the home record to 5-2.
How it Happened
1st Quarter: The game began tight for both teams, but a Stegen goal from a Boekaar pass gave the Mountaineers an early lead in the contest. Neither team forced a corner in the period, both having ample possession in the midfield. Nearing the end of the period, Paul found the back of the cage for her second goal of the season, giving the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead going into the second quarter.
2nd Quarter: It was more offensive pressure from the Mountaineers, forcing two saves by Ball State goalkeeper Hannah Johnston in the period. Ball State scored their lone goal of the game at the tail end of the second period, capitalizing off the team’s only penalty corner of the period. The Mountaineers led the Cardinals 2-1 going into the halftime break.
3rd Quarter: It was all App State in the third, dominating a bulk of the possession in the period. The Mountaineers forced another three saves from Johnston, along with forcing three corners in the period. Both teams were held scoreless in the third, with the Mountaineers maintaining their one goal lead going into the final period.
4th Quarter: The fourth period was more of the same for App State, forcing two corners in the period and testing the Ball State goalkeeper twice. Bridget Donovan found the back of the cage for the third time this season, giving the Mountaineers a two-goal cushion. App State eventually defeated Ball State, 3-1.
