Recap courtesy of App State Athletic Communications
App State 2, Davidson 0
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. — The App State field hockey team erupted for two fourth-quarter goals to pass its first road test of the season Wednesday, shutting out Davidson 2-0 behind scores from Brynn Shaffer and Chloe Hook.
Shaffer's game-winner marked her first goal for the Mountaineers (3-0). Hook sealed the victory with six minutes remaining, scoring her second goal in as many games into an empty cage following a long aerial pass from team captain Sophia Baxter.
Goalkeeper Dakota Anderson, the reigning MAC Goalkeeper of the Week, anchored the defensive effort in her third start of the season. She registered six saves to record her second shutout of the year, bringing her season save total to 15 while allowing just one goal through three games.
The Mountaineers clamped down in the second half, denying the Wildcats (1-2) a single penalty corner and holding them to just one shot on goal over the final 30 minutes.
Both defenses held firm in a scoreless opening quarter. Anderson stopped both shots she faced to keep Davidson off the board.
Offense remained sparse into the break, with Anderson adding one save as the teams combined for just three total shots in the period.
App State increased its attacking pressure out of halftime, earning two penalty corners. Davidson put two shots on goal, but Anderson turned both away to keep the match deadlocked.
The Mountaineers broke through early in the fourth quarter when Shaffer scored in front of the cage, running onto a deflected ball and tipping it past the goalkeeper. Trailing late, Davidson pulled its goalkeeper to add an extra fielder. Despite playing down two players due to card suspensions, App State capitalized when Baxter lofted an aerial pass over the defense to set up Hook's empty-cage goal.