OXFORD, Ohio — The App State field hockey team saw its Mid-American Conference tournament run come to an end Wednesday afternoon, falling 1-0 to Kent State in the MAC quarterfinals as Kent State Golden Flashes reported.
The postseason matchup at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, ended with Kent State securing its first MAC tournament victory since 2024. The loss leaves the Mountaineers out of the tournament while Kent State advances to face top-seeded UMass in the MAC semifinals.
Despite heavy offensive pressure and statistical advantages across several categories, App State was unable to find the back of the net against Golden Flashes graduate transfer goalkeeper Michaela Skinner. Skinner turned in nine saves on the afternoon and helped defend against 12 total penalty corners earned by the Mountaineers, bringing her season total to 96 saves and registering her second shutout of the year.
Kent State established initial control in the opening quarter, generating an early scoring opportunity five minutes into the game. Golden Flashes leading scorer Eva Usoz took a shot off a penalty corner, but App State goalkeeper Dakota Anderson made the save. Anderson finished the afternoon with four saves for the Mountaineers.
App State responded less than a minute later with its first major chance. Sophia Baxter attempted back-to-back shots off penalty corners, but both attempts were stopped by Skinner. The opening frame concluded in a 0-0 tie, with the Mountaineers earning three penalty corners in the first half.
Weather conditions deteriorated significantly in the second quarter. Torrential downpours and strong winds washed over the field, causing players to slip and creating difficult ball handling for both sides. Despite the harsh elements, both defensive units held firm through the remainder of the first half, sending the contest into halftime tied at 0-0.
At the break, the statistical line remained completely even across shots, shots on goal, and penalty corners before App State pulled ahead in the stat sheet during the second half.
The Mountaineers pushed forward immediately after halftime. App State moved the ball down the field to set up Sarah Callery, but her shot pulled wide right, keeping the game scoreless.
Kent State broke the deadlock midway through the third quarter. Sophia Livingston sent a pass from the right corner of the turf toward Alexa Knott. The ball deflected off an App State player directly to Knott, who redirected it into the left pocket of the goal. The score marked Knott's second goal of the season, with Livingston receiving her first career collegiate assist alongside an assist credit for Emily Robertson.
Shortly after the goal, App State earned a penalty corner, but Kent State's Ryli Zee recorded a defensive save to protect the lead. The defensive save was Zee's 14th of the season, putting her one save away from matching Kent State's program career record.
The Mountaineers came close to equalizing late in the third quarter when Madie Baker took a shot with six minutes remaining in the period, but the effort missed just wide right of the post. The Golden Flashes carried their 1-0 advantage into the fourth quarter.
App State made a relentless push in the final frame, dominating possession and earning eight penalty corners in the fourth quarter alone. Five of those corner opportunities came in a rapid sequence between the seven-minute and six-minute marks. Two shots sailed wide, Robertson blocked another, and Skinner saved two attempts.
With two minutes remaining in the game, another App State penalty corner resulted in three consecutive shots, but the Kent State defense turned away every attempt to close out the 1-0 result. By the final whistle, App State held a +7 advantage in penalty corners, a +12 advantage in total shots, and a +5 edge in shots on goal.
With the victory in Oxford, Kent State advances to play 5th-ranked UMass at 11:30 a.m. in the MAC semifinals. Host school Miami (OH) will play James Madison in the other semifinal matchup after James Madison earned a 2-0 shutout over Ohio earlier Wednesday.
