App State set to Host Miami in MAC Championship Rematch on Friday
BOONE, N.C. – After posting a conference-opening win against Bellarmine last Friday, the App State Mountaineers (5-2, 1-0 MAC) are set to return home for the first time since Sept. 3 to host the Miami RedHawks (5-3, 1-0 MAC) in a MAC Championship game rematch from 2022 on Friday. First touch from Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field is scheduled for noon and can be streamed on Twitch, YouTube and our Facebook page.
The Mountaineers are looking to start 2-0 in MAC conference play for the first time in program history. App State posted a 5-2 conference record last season, which marked the best record the team has posted since joining the MAC in 2017. The Black & Gold finished third in the MAC standings, which was the program’s highest MAC placement ever.
App State has won 15 of their last 18 games dating back to last season, which is good for a .833 winning percentage over that stretch. It’s the best 18-game stretch for the Mountaineers since 1974-75 when Dr. Jan Watson’s squad also won 15 of 18 games.
The App State defense has been the story of the season so far. The Black & Gold come into play on Friday having allowed the fewest goals (11) and have held their opposition scoreless in 20 periods this season. The Mountaineers have yet to allow more than three goals in a game this season.
“Miami is a good team year in and year out,” head coach Emily Dinsmore said. “The team is prepared for a battle on Friday, and we are ready to put our best foot forward and compete against a good conference rival. The team is excited to step on the field in front of our fans on Friday.”
The Matchup
- Who: App State vs. Miami
- Where: Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field // Boone, N.C.
- When: September 22 // Noon
Last Time Out
App State picked up a 4-2 win over Bellarmine, marking the first time App State has started 1-0 in conference play as a member of the MAC.
Charlotte Bosma dazzled against the Knights, recording five points in the first half and leading the Mountaineers to a season-high four goals in the game. Bosma scored off two corner opportunities and assisted on Sarah Farrell’s score in the second period.
Hadley Kuzmicky became the fifth Mountaineer this season to celebrate scoring their first career goal after scoring late in the third period on Friday. Kuzmicky joins Sophia Baxter, Florine Koopman, Jillian Orcutt and Kassie Paul as players to achieve that milestone this season.
Scouting the Mountaineers
The Mountaineers come into this matchup with Bellarmine having won 15 of their last 18 games dating back to last season, which is good for a 0.833 winning percentage. The last time App State had an 18-game stretch this good was in 1974-75, when the Black & Gold also won 15 of 18 games.
Head coach Emily Dinsmore has led her squad to the program’s best seven-game start since 2019 when the team started the season 6-1 through the first seven games. Dinsmore is the first Mountaineer coach to win five of their first seven games as head coach since Mandy Latz did so in her first season in 2003.
13 Mountaineers have recorded a point this season. Of those 13, 12 have recorded multiple points and nine players have scored a goal. Charlotte Bosma leads the Mountaineer offensive charge with 11 points.
After last Friday’s performance against Bellarmine, Charlotte Bosma finds herself in the top five of multiple offensive categories in the MAC, including goals scored (T-2nd), assists (T-2nd) and points (T-1st). The five points she scored against the Knights is tied for the most points a MAC player has recorded in a single game this season.
Defensively, the Mountaineers have been stellar all season long. The Black & Gold come into this weekend’s action as one of three MAC teams to have posted a shutout this season and have allowed the fewest goals (11) in the league. App State has held their opposition scoreless in 20 of 29 quarters this season and have posted six shutout halves.
Scouting the RedHawks
Miami won their conference opener last Friday against Longwood 3-1. Overall, the RedHawks are 5-3 on the season and come into this matchup with the Mountaineers after losing their last contest to Brown in overtime last Sunday. The RedHawks have won the previous five MAC regular season titles and are the defending MAC tournament champions.
Offensively, Miami is led by Claudia Negrete Garcia, who leads the team in goals, assists, points, shots and shots on goal. Goalkeeper Isabelle Perese has the lowest goals against average in the MAC conference (1.386) and has allowed 11 goals this season.
Series History
This will be the 24th matchup between the RedHawks and the Mountaineers and the first time App State has hosted Miami since Sept. 17, 2021. Miami leads the all-time series 4-19 and has beaten App State 13 times in a row.
Fifth-year forward Rachel Fleig scored a point in both matchups against Miami last season, including dishing out an assist in the MAC championship game. Fleig scored the first of two Mountaineer goals against the RedHawks in the regular season loss to Miami last September.
Grace Ball is the only other Mountaineer to record a point against Miami, racking up an assist in the game against the RedHawks on April 16, 2021.
Coach’s Thoughts
“It’s going to be a competitive 60 minutes, but with our family and friends supporting us in the stands, we know that nothing can tear us down,” Dinsmore said. “Being back on our home turf for the first time in two weeks will provide us a great environment to compete.”
Up Next
After Friday’s contest, The Mountaineers will take a break from MAC play and travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to square off against the defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday. First touch from Karen Shelton Stadium is scheduled for noon and can be streamed on the ACC Network Extra.
