App State field hockey claimed a dominant 6-1 victory over Queens University of Charlotte on Thursday, leading from start to finish. The win marks the Mountaineers' fourth in their first five games of the season.
The Black and Gold wasted no time in establishing their lead, with freshman midfielder Chloe Hook burying a backhanded shot only 44 seconds after the opening whistle. This early goal put App State on the scoreboard less than a minute into the game.
Midway through the first quarter, the Mountaineers drew a penalty, setting up a crucial corner play. On the ensuing corner, junior back Rylie Novak found the back of the cage, marking her first collegiate career goal. Novak was celebrated by her teammates following the special moment.
As the second quarter began, senior goalkeeper Dakota Anderson made a stick save, thwarting one of the Royals’ early threats. Moments later, senior forward Brynn Shaffer scored to extend App State's lead to 3-0. Shaffer struck again midway through the quarter, bringing her season total to three goals.
Not to be outdone, freshman midfielder Chloe Hook notched her second tally of the game in the final minute of the first half, making the score 5-0 at halftime. Hook now leads the team with five goals and is on an impressive four-game goal streak.
Queens attempted to break through early in the third quarter, but Anderson made a diving save to keep the shutout bid alive at that point. Senior midfielder Sophia Baxter then capped the scoring for the Mountaineers just over five minutes into the third quarter, giving the Black and Gold a half-dozen goals.
Queens ultimately spoiled the shutout with 10 minutes remaining in the game, but the Mountaineers cruised to victory. App State demonstrated its offensive prowess by out-shooting Queens 22-8 over the course of the match.
The game also saw the return of junior midfielder Darby Reyburn, who made her long-awaited comeback to the field. Reyburn had missed all of last season due to an injury. In her return, she played 28 minutes and registered a shot on goal, contributing to the team's strong performance.
Having secured four wins in their first five games, the Mountaineers face a significant challenge on Sunday. They are set to host No. 6 Wake Forest University in Boone at noon. The upcoming game will be streamed live on the App State Athletics YouTube channel, offering local fans an opportunity to follow the team's progress.