App State Field Hockey Eyes MAC Championship Berth in Senior Day Showdown with Kent State
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A thrilling regular-season finale awaits App State field hockey this Friday, as the Mountaineers prepare to host Kent state for Senior Day with significant championship implications on the line. Fans are encouraged to come dressed in costume for a halftime contest, with candy and hot chocolate available throughout the game at Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M.Adcock Field Hockey Complex in Boone, North Carolina.
Mountaineers Seek Third Consecutive MAC Title
App State (12-5, 6-2 MAC) is aiming to rebound from a 3-0 loss to No.6 Wake Forest last Sunday and secure its third straight Mid-American Conference regular-season championship. However, the path to the title isn’t solely in their hands.The Mountaineers need a victory over Kent State and losses from both No. 13 Miami (OH) and James Madison to claim the crown.
The Mountaineers are second in the conference in several key statistical categories. The team boasts remarkable numbers, including 2.59 assists per game, 3.29 goals per game, 9.18 points per game, and 7.35 penalty corners per game.They also rank among the top 10 nationally in goals and scoring average.
leading the charge is Lise Boekaar, who is having a phenomenal season. Boekaar currently leads the MAC in assists (19), total points (43), and game-winning goals (5), and is tied for fourth in goals scored with 12. Nationally, she ranks second in assists per game (1.27) and ninth in points per game (2.53).Her early-season performance earned her the MAC Offensive Player of the Week award, as she was responsible for the team’s frist 10 goals of the season. Boekaar has already broken the App State record for most assists in a single season (19) and holds the program’s all-time career assist record with 34.
On the defensive side, Sophia Baxter has been equally impactful, earning a record four Defensive Player of the Week awards this season. Baxter is currently tied with Boekaar for the team led in goals with 12, a remarkable feat for a center back.
The Mountaineers’ success is further bolstered by a core of experienced players, including Boekaar, Henriette Stegen, and Fréderique Grimbergen, all of whom earned All-MAC selections in 2024. Boekaar was named to the All-MAC First Team and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) South Region First Team, while Stegen earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team and Grimbergen was recognized on the All-MAC Freshman Team.
Kent State Looks to Spoil the Party
Kent State (4-10, 3-5 MAC) enters the contest following a 7-12 (5-3 MAC) season in 2024. The Golden Flashes recently suffered a narrow 3-2 overtime loss to James Madison.Kent State is under the direction of second-year head coach Heather Hefner.
Series History: Mountaineers Seek to Close the Gap
This Friday’s game marks the 16th all-time meeting between App State and Kent State. Historically, the series favors the Golden Flashes, who lead 12-3. However, the Mountaineers have won three of the last four matchups, with their only loss coming in overtime during the 2023 MAC Tournament.
Looking Ahead: MAC Championship Bound
irrespective of Friday’s outcome, the Mountaineers are poised to compete in the MAC Field Hockey championship, scheduled for November 5-8 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Currently, App State holds the third seed in the tournament with a 6-2 conference record.A win against Kent State would solidify their position as the three seed with a 7-2 record. However, a loss for App State coupled with a James Madison win in regulation would shift the Dukes into the three seed based on a higher point total. A more complex scenario involving both teams losing in overtime would necessitate a tiebreaker based on goal differential,where James Madison currently holds a +13 advantage.
