Just two minutes into the second half of play on Friday, Bridget Donovan took the insert from Florine Koopman off the penalty corner and slapped the ball past the Chippewa goalkeeper to tie things up at one apiece.

Donovan’s goal helped spark a string of three unanswered goals scored by the Mountaineers (6-4, 2-1 MAC) in the second half to lead them to a 3-1 road win over the Central Michigan Chippewas (1-8, 0-3 MAC) on Friday. App State held possession from the second period on, outshooting the Chippewas 27-2 in the contest, and didn’t allow a single shot after the first period.

“I was really happy that the team was able to earn a corner and start the second half on a good note,” Donovan said. “Momentum really shifted to start the half and I am thankful that I was in the right place to score. I’m very happy we got the win today.”

The Mountaineers took their first lead of the game just 27 seconds into the fourth quarter on Friday as Lise Boekaar notched her first score of the season and give the Mountaineers a lead they would never relinquish. Boekaar’s goal was the third game-winning goal scored in the fourth quarter or overtime for the Mountaineers this season and the first since Kassie Paul’s heroics in overtime against James Madison on Sept. 8.

App State celebrated another first career goal today as Noa Ginjaume Matas became the sixth Mountaineer to score their first career goal this season. Ginjaume Matas’ goal came just over three minutes after Boekaar’s go-ahead goal and put the icing on the cake in the Black & Gold’s comeback win on Friday.

“It was a bit emotional for me with it being my first goal at App State,” Ginjaume Matas said. “As a team, we had more shots and more corners than them, so me being able to capitalize on the team’s successes is special to me.”

App State’s first of 27 shots came just 63 seconds into the game off the stick of Sophia Baxter. App State would fire four first-quarter shots, with one being on goal, but none were able to find the net in the period.

CMU cracked the scoreboard first, scoring their lone goal of the game in the fourth minute. Chippewa forward Zoey Emrick would notch an unassisted goal, her second of the season, and give CMU a 1-0 lead.

App State would finish the first period with a flurry of shots by Lise Boekaar, who attempted a season-high seven shots in the game, but App State would end the first quarter trailing by one goal. App State would outshoot CMU 4-2 in the period, with three shots coming off Boekaar’s stick.

In an impressive defensive showing, the Mountaineer defense would not allow a single Chippewa shot for the rest of the game after the first quarter. The game shifted in favor of the Mountaineers early in the second period and App State would never relinquish control, generating multiple offensive chances and imposing their will onto the Chippewas.

The second quarter saw five Mountaineer shots, with two being on goal. Sophia Baxter saw her second shot of the day get saved by CMU goalkeeper Coletta Beeler, which was her second of the day. Later in the period, Donovan attempted her first shot of Friday’s action, but Beeler was there to pick up another save.

App State out-cornered the Chippewas 2-0 and outshot CMU 5-0 in the second period, but Beeler and the Chippewa defense held serve and kept their lead at 1-0 as play hit halftime. App State led the shots statistic 9-2 after the first 30 minutes.

The Mountaineers would finally capitalize on a scoring chance in the third quarter as Donovan would take a pass from Florine Koopman and score the equalizer just two minutes into the second half. Donovan’s goal was her second score in her last three games and came at a pivotal point in the game as App State would go on a tear offensively and score three unanswered second-half goals.

CMU goalkeeper Coletta Beeler had a busy third quarter between the posts as App State would take 11 shots in the period. Donovan would be responsible for five shots in the third quarter, while four others would attempt to break it past Beeler with no luck.

Despite the offensive onslaught from the Mountaineers in the third quarter, Donovan’s score was the lone App State goal of the period and would send the game to the final 15 minutes at a 1-1 draw.

The score would not be tied for long in the fourth quarter of Friday’s action as just 27 seconds in, Lise Boekaar, who led the team in shots with seven, found the back of the cage for her first goal of the season and would give the Mountaineers the lead for good. Boekaar’s goal made her the 11th Mountaineer this season to score a goal.

Three minutes later, the Mountaineers celebrated another first career goal as Noa Ginjaume Matas took a pass from Bridget Donovan and slapped it past the CMU goalie for her first goal in the Black & Gold. Ginjaume Matas is the sixth Mountaineer this season to celebrate that milestone and became the 12th Mountaineer to crack the net this season.

Ginjaume Matas’ goal in the 48th minute would seal the deal for the Mountaineers, as the Black & Gold would beat CMU 3-1 and move them to 2-1 in the MAC. Friday’s win also marked the second road conference win this season and the fifth win away from Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field overall.

“It’s always a positive when we have multiple people that can score and want to score,” head coach Emily Dinsmore said. “12 people having scored a goal this season speaks to that. The more aggressive we can be in the attack circle, the better.”

The Mountaineers will take the field again in less than 24 hours as they will face the Lindenwood Lions in a neutral site game on Saturday at Cristy Freese Field. First touch is slated for 11 a.m.