Three goals within five minutes in the third quarter propelled the App State Mountaineers (2-0) to a 4-1 victory over the Georgetown Hoyas (0-2) and capped off an undefeated opening weekend.

It was a day full of firsts for the Mountaineers on Sunday. Both Sophia Baxter and Florine Koopman notched their first career goals, while Noa Ginjaume Matas was credited with her first two career assists on the day.

Baxter recorded her first career multi-goal game in Sunday’s win. The freshman midfielder would score the first goal of her career with 10 minutes to play in the third quarter. She would then slap her second career goal into the back of the cage just over five minutes later off a penalty corner to extend the App State lead to four.

The Mountaineers were incredibly efficient with the shots they took in today’s contest. Of the 11 shots that were attempted by App State, seven of them were on goal. They applied constant pressure on the Hoya defense and found the back of the cage four times, recording the most goals the team has scored in a game since Oct. 23, 2022.

With today’s win, the Mountaineers have now started the season 2-0 for the second straight season. Head coach Emily Dinsmore has won her first two games as a head coach, which is the first time that feat has been accomplished by a Mountaineer head coach since Mandy Latz won her first two games in 2003.

The Mountaineers started Sunday’s contest off almost identical to Friday’s win. Off the insert by Florine Koopman after a penalty corner, Sarah Perkins would leave the ball for Charlotte Bosma who would then fire the ball past the Georgetown defense and into the back of the cage to give the Mountaineers an early lead.

Georgetown would lead the quarter in shots attempted, but neither were on target and the Mountaineers would take a one goal lead into the second quarter.

The second quarter saw several chances for the Hoyas to tie the game. Georgetown would draw one penalty corner and attempt four shots, but Addie Clark continued her great play between the posts and recorded two more saves.

App State did not attempt a shot in the second quarter, but the defense held firm as Bosma’s goal gave the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead after one half of play.

App State would immediately take control of the game coming out of the halftime break, scoring three goals in the quarter and breaking the game wide open.

Sophia Baxter would net her first career goal after App State drew its third penalty corner of the game. Baxter took the pass from Sarah Farrell and smacked the ball past the Hoya goalkeeper to make the score 2-0. Farrell’s assist was her first of the season and sixth of her career.

30 seconds later, App State would find the back of the cage for the third time of the day. Florine Koopman would score her first career goal off a redirect to give App State a 3-0 lead. Both Grace Ball and Noa Ginjaume Matas were credited with assists on Koopman’s goal. The assist by Ginjaume Matas was her first career assist.

With five minutes to play in the third quarter, Baxter would score her second career goal and second of the day off yet another App State penalty corner. Ball and Ginjaume Matas were credited with the assists, giving them both two for the day.

App State would apply pressure on the Hoya defense all quarter, outshooting them 7-2 in the third.

The Hoyas would score their lone goal of the day just three minutes into the fourth quarter on Sunday. Lois Lekawael was responsible for this goal with assists credited to Julia Hall and Sophie Towne.

But it was too little, too late for the Hoyas as a monster third quarter by the Mountaineers would put this game out of reach and propel the team to its second consecutive 2-0 start.

The Mountaineers will return to the High Country for their first home game on Friday, Sep. 1 where they will take on the Drexel Dragons. First touch from Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field is set for 7 p.m. and can be streamed on Twitch, YouTube and our Facebook page.