Ball State University
(1-6)
Appalachian State
(1-4)
Field Hockey Towers Over Appalachian State 3-2
September 12, 2015 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State (1-6) field hockey team took on Appalachian State (1-4) Saturday afternoon and narrowly topped the Mountaineers 3-2 in their first win of the season, thanks to a pair goals from junior Lexi Kavanaugh (Sherrill, N.Y./Vernon Verona Sherrill). This marks the second consecutive two-goal game for Cardinals leading scorer, Kavanaugh.
“If you're going to win anywhere, it's nice to win at home,” Ball State field hockey head coach Sally Northcroft said. “I think that it's really exciting and the team played with a lot of guts and determination. I think it was a really hard fought game and it made it interesting until the very end, but I'm proud of how they followed through with the game plan.”
The Cardinals and the Mountaineers remained scoreless through the first 11 minutes of the game, until freshman Anya Eicher (Boort, Victoria, Australia/Boort District School/Boort Hockey Club) notched her first collegiate career goal unassisted on a backhand shot. Kavanaugh then went one-on-one with Appalachian State's goalkeeper and scored off a shot at the top of the circle to give Ball State a two goal lead 20:54 into the game.
Early in the second half, the Mountaineers' leading scorer Caroline Phillips responded when she scored off one of the team's seven penalty stroke opportunities to narrow the score 2-1. Kavanaugh then tallied her second goal of the game shortly thereafter to secure the win for the Cardinals when she tipped in a rebound from senior Bianca Velez (Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd E. Kellum/Beach Premiere)'s penalty stroke attempt.
With momentum exchanging frequently between both teams, Ball State called the lone time out of the game midway through the second half.
“Calling the timeout was a big part of turning the game back around for us,” Northcroft said. “This team has amazing potential, and when you get down in a rut and feel the pressure, you have to find a way to get them out. They needed that little time to get their heads back in where they needed to be and look around to know they had teammates and they had support and that we have a game plan and we could stick to it to be successful.”
Appalachian State's Micaela Diedericks closed out the scoring with a goal off a cross circle pass from Jordan Van Cleave with just over four minutes remaining, leaving the final at 3-2 Ball State with minutes to spare.
“They relied on each other to get the job done. There were some great individual performances, like Lexi scoring two goals with different people assisting,” Northcroft went on. “Defensively, Cameron Daniels was sensational. She's got great leadership in the back field. I told the team that they need to look at their individual performances and their team performances and review what they did well and what they need to work on. Obviously as a coaching staff, that's something we'll spend some time doing as well.”
Back in net, junior goalkeeper Jordan Dues (Fallbrook, Calif./Fallbrook) made her seventh start of the season and recorded two saves on a total of eight Appalachian State shot attempts.
Penalty corners were crucial to several key goals in the game, and Appalachian State held a 7-5 advantage in attempts at the top of the circle. With a narrow and momentous game, both teams tallied eight shot attempts with four landing on goal.
“I'm excited now because I can see where this team is heading and they are believing in the game plan and what we're trying to do,” Northcroft added. “We've got some time now to work on those things and really iron out some of those details in terms of protecting the ball and passing the ball when under pressure and being able to handle the kind of pressure we were under today on a regular basis.”
Up next, the Ball State field hockey team will head to Bloomington, Ind. to face Indiana at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State field hockey, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateFH on Twitter.
Team Stats
EICHER, Anya (1)
backhand shot five yards out
11:05
KAVANAUGH, Lexi (4)
Assisted By: JARDELL, Natalie
One on one with goalie, shot at the circ
20:54
PHILLIPS, Caroline (4)
Assisted By: CIMBALIST, Taylor
Off a penalty corner
41:54
KAVANAUGH, Lexi (5)
Assisted By: VELEZ, Bianca
off a penalty corner rebound
50:56
DIEDERICKS, Micaela (2)
Assisted By: VAN CLEAVE, Jordan
Cross across the circle
65:34
