LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine Knights opened Mid-American Conference play today as they ended a seven-game homestand by hosting the Mountaineers of Appalachian State with the visitors claiming a 4-2 victory at Trager Stadium.
The game unfolded with most of the action taking place outside the circle. In fact, only six penalty corners were whistled in the entire game, with three of those resulting in goals.
Appalachian State got the scoring started when they drew the first penalty corner of the game 12 minutes into the action and Charlotte Bosma rifled a shot into the left side of the cage off a double assist from Florine Koopman and Sarah Perkins.
However, the Knights made an immediate reply when shortly after the restart,
Lauren Marshall collected the ball inside the circle and passed to
Paige Hoyer who tipped it in the cage for her fifth goal of the season.
The visitors controlled the action for most of the second period, outshooting the Knights 4-1 and netting two scores to take a 3-1 lead to halftime. Similar to the quick strike of the Knights in the first quarter, App State wasted no time in scoring in the second quarter as less than 30 seconds after play resumed Sarah Farrell notched a goal after Bosma sent the ball toward the cage. The Moutaineers' second tally of the period came in a near repeat of their first goal, as Bosma again hit a bullet on a penalty corner off another double assist.
After the break, few scoring opportunities presented themselves with Appalachian State getting off two third quarter shots, converting one of those for a 3-1 lead. The Knights were held shotless in the third period.
Bellarmine finally got a scoring opportunity with about eight minutes remaining in the game, and took advantage of a penalty corner by nearly duplicated the successful corner plays of ASU in the first half.
Peyton Hobson inserted to stopper
Isabel Gladys and
Anna Crump ripped a powerful shot in the left side of the cage.
The Knights got one more good look at a goal with less than a minute remaining, but this time Bellarmine couldn't capitalize on the penalty corner and ASU held on for the 4-2 victory.
For the game, App State held an 11-4 shot advantage, but the Knights and Mountaineers each drew three penalty corners.
Appalachian State, which also was making its MAC debut, improved to 5-2 overall while the Knights slip to 2-5 overall.
Bellarmine returns to action next Friday, when the Knights take their first road trip of the year to face MAC opponent Longwood at 5 p.m. in Farmville, Virginia.
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