Kent State University
App State
11/3/2026 1:27:00 PM | Field Hockey
OXFORD, Ohio – The Kent State Field Hockey team is preparing to play App State in the first round of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 11:30 in the morning.
The game is the No. 4 vs No. 5 matchup in the tournament with the Mountaineers finishing the season in 4th place in the conference and Kent State placing in 5th, one win behind App State.
Kent State lost to App State on Oct. 18 in the regular season in one of the most thrilling games of the year. Led by goals from Alexa Knott and Eva Usoz, the Flashes took a 2-1 lead into the final frame. However, with just 103 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Sophia Baxter tied the game for App State off a penalty corner. The Mountaineers went onto win the game in overtime with a game-winning goal by Brynn Shaffer, stealing the victory away from Kent State in a playoff-type atmosphere. Now, the two teams will face off once more in an actual playoff game with a trip to the MAC semifinals on the line.
Last Time Out
The Golden Flashes snuck into the MAC Tournament as the No. 5 seed after defeating Ohio 3-1 in the regular season finale last Friday. Addie Gagnon, Mary Kate Finnan and Eva Usoz all scored for Kent State in the game, with assists tallied by Maybritt Duwel, Riley Welsch, and Alexa Knott. Gagnon's goal was her third of the season and she is now second on the team in scoring. Duwel's dish was her fourth of the season, putting her alone for the team lead in assists.
Along with the potent offense, goalkeeper Michaela Skinner's defense was electric in the victory, holding the Bobcats scoreless through the first 57 minutes of the game.
App State Scouting Report
The Mountaineers are an even 9-9 on the year overall with a 5-4 MAC record. Despite ending the year with a .500 record, App State started off the year on an absolute tear, winning five of the first seven games in August and early September. The Mountaineers ended the regular season defeating Longwood 3-0 on Oct. 30 for their Senior Day game. Morgan Hook, Sarah Callery and Baylie Phillips all scored for App State, while Dakota Anderson was perfect in the net with five saves.
Anderson has objectively been one of the best keepers in the MAC this season with 130 saves and four shutouts in a whopping 61.8 minutes played per game. Offensively, Sophia Baxter and Chloe Hook led the team with 17 points each. Hook leads the team with eight goals and Baxter leads the team with seven assists.
Series History
The Flashes have a fairly successful history against the Mountaineers, going 9-5 against them all-time with their first matchup resulting in a 6-2 Kent State victory back in 2013. Each team has won five games apiece over the last 10 matchups.
Up Next
If the Golden Flashes defeat App State, they will play either 5th-ranked UMass or 11th-ranked Miami (OH) in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 5.
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