Appalachian State University's field hockey team hosted No. 6 Wake Forest University in a home game, presenting an opportunity for the Mountaineers to challenge a nationally ranked opponent. However, the Mountaineers were unable to withstand the Demon Deacons’ offensive pressure and attack, ultimately falling in a 6-0 loss.
Wake Forest maintained control of the game from the outset, dominating possession time and accumulating a significant number of shots on goal. In the early minutes of the first quarter, App State's defense managed to stop Wake Forest's first three shots. Despite these early defensive efforts, the Demon Deacons remained on the offensive, creating a fast break opportunity that was also stopped by the Mountaineers with under five minutes remaining in the quarter. Wake Forest eventually broke through in the final minute of the first quarter, with midfielder Mia Schoenbeck scoring the game's first goal, putting the Demon Deacons up 1-0.
The second quarter saw a back-and-forth struggle for control without any change to the scoreboard. A potential Wake Forest goal was taken off the board with under five minutes left in the quarter. Despite multiple shots on goal from the aggressive Demon Deacons, senior goalkeeper Dakota Anderson made several denials, preventing any further scoring. The second quarter concluded quietly, with Wake Forest still holding a 1-0 lead.
Wake Forest extended its lead significantly in the third quarter, opening with an early goal by midfielder Ava Moore, making the score 2-0. The Mountaineers struggled to gain control of the ball as the Demon Deacons continued their offensive flow. Midfielder Lena Keller added another goal for Wake Forest, pushing the lead to 3-0. The Demon Deacons scored their third goal of the quarter with another shot by Ava Moore, concluding the third quarter with a commanding 4-0 advantage.
The offensive pressure from Wake Forest continued into the fourth quarter. Forward Bianca Rees-Gibbs scored, assisted by midfielder Brooke Bettencourt, further extending the lead to 5-0. Mia Schoenbeck then scored her second goal of the game, bringing the final tally to 6-0. Wake Forest had maintained control throughout the entire contest.
By the end of the game, Appalachian State recorded no shots on goal. In contrast, Wake Forest finished the day with 40 shots on goal, reflecting their offensive dominance. The Mountaineers will look to rebound in their next game, a Mid-American Conference matchup against Bellarmine University. The home game is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on YouTube.
