By Jacob Plecker. MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Off a broken penalty corner in the 11th minute of play on Saturday, App State field hockey’s Sophia Baxter found fellow freshman Florine Koopman near the post and delivered. Her pass was swatted into the back of the cage to give the Mountaineers a lead never relinquished.
App State (7-4, 2-1 MAC) never trailed after Koopman’s goal and went on to beat the Lindenwood Lions (1-6), 3-1, in a neutral site bout on Saturday. Great defense and efficient offense were the keys to victory on Sept. 30 as the Mountaineers turned defense into offense multiple times, capitalizing on several attacking chances.
“I’m proud of the way we played this weekend,” Koopman said. “The defense was great, and we were able to turn our defense into offense all game. It was a great team effort both yesterday and today.”
Lise Boekaar and Noa Ginjaume Matas each netted second goals in as many days, with Boekaar’s coming in the second period and Ginjaume Matas’ coming in the fourth. Ginjaume Matas, who started both games this weekend, took advantage of a good Mountaineer stand on a penalty corner and turned it into a score for the team’s third goal of the day.
“It was important for us to have play good this weekend after losing two last week, and we did that with the two wins,” Ginjaume Matas said. “I hope to continue putting more goals on cage and helping my team win any way I can.”
It was the second 3-1 win of the weekend for the Mountaineers, who defeated Central Michigan on Sept. 29.
