Mountaineers Advance with 3-1 Quarterfinal Victory Over Ohio

Image Courtesy Of App State Facebook

Appalachian State field hockey secured its first postseason victory since 2022, defeating Ohio 3-1 in the MAC Championship quarterfinals Wednesday. The triumph also marked head coach Emily Dinsmore’s first postseason win at the helm of the program.

Offensive Efficiency Drives Victory

Frederique Grimbergen starred for the Mountaineers (14-5, 7-2 MAC), netting both of App State’s first-half goals to build a commanding 2-0 advantage. Sophia Baxter added insurance with her 14th goal of the season in the fourth quarter off the team’s lone penalty corner of the period.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: App State established control immediately as Grimbergen slotted the ball into the bottom right corner for the opening goal. The Mountaineers applied consistent offensive pressure, earning three penalty corners while forcing four shots.

Second Quarter: Grimbergen doubled the advantage with her second tally, giving App State a comfortable two-goal cushion heading into halftime. The Mountaineers added another penalty corner and forced a save from the Ohio goalkeeper.

Third Quarter: Both teams battled through a scoreless period, with goalkeeper Claire Grenis making two crucial saves to preserve App State’s shutout.

Fourth Quarter: Baxter extended the lead to 3-0 with her 14th goal of the season before Ohio (5-13, 3-6 MAC) broke through on their only penalty corner of the match for a consolation goal.

Statistical Dominance

The Mountaineers controlled the match statistically, outshooting Ohio 14-3 while holding a commanding 5-1 advantage in penalty corners. Grenis (14-5) earned the victory with two saves, while Ohio’s Ash Stephenson (5-13) made four stops in the losing effort.

Kate Donovan and Hadley Kuzmicky each contributed assists for App State, while Ohio’s James scored the Bobcats’ lone goal with assists from DuCoin and Risser.

Semifinal Showdown Awaits

The victory propels App State into Thursday’s semifinals against No. 14 nationally ranked, No. 2 seed UMass at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+. The matchup presents a significant challenge against one of the nation’s elite programs as the Mountaineers pursue their championship aspirations.