First loss of the young season.

Outshot UR 18-6 but it's the ones that go in that matter. Stay in Richmond to face my wife's alma mater and former team she played for, VCU, on Sunday.

I had to opportunity to watch the Mountaineers play in person yesterday, and plan to attend again Sunday (my wife is also a VCU alum, though her hockey career except as a "Hockey Mom" ended with high school.)

App dominated in ever fascet of the game except the scoreboard. Most of the game was played in the App offensive 25 and they controlled possession with ease. Only 3 of the Spiders 6 shots were classified as "on goal" and two of those went in.

Overall, I was impressed with their speed, agressiveness, and ball control, but honestly, their shots were sloppy and bit all over the place.

When the schedule was released, this weekend was the one I had circled. One reason was because they played 2 games in my hometown. But more importantly, it is because the program has improved so much since I fell in love with the sport when my daughters picked up the game in grade school and this weekend's games are the type of games App needs to win if they want take the program to the next level, beating traditionally strong mid-tier non-power conference programs.

This team is potentially the best hockey team App State has ever had and I think they have the ability to make it to the NCAA tournament. But I also think, while being more talented, their record at season's end may not be as impressive as in the past 2 years. This year's schedule is MUCH tougher. Hopefully, that will make them stronger come conference tournament time. They will be underdogs a few times against Liberty, Wake, Miami, and ODU, also JMU looks to be better this year than they have been recently. However, I suspect the only game where they will seriously mismatched will be when the Tar Heels come to Boone in October. VCU will be a big test on Sunday.

Tough 3-2 OT loss to VCU

I saw similar positive and negatives as with the Richmond game. App carried a 2-1 lead with about 2 minutes to go in the 4th and gave up a late goal to send it to OT then the Rams got a quick goal to end it early in OT. It seems closing out the game will be something to focus on in practice.

AppfaninCAALand wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2024 7:21 am

Tough 3-2 OT loss to VCU

I saw similar positive and negatives as with the Richmond game. App carried a 2-1 lead with about 2 minutes to go in the 4th and gave up a late goal to send it to OT then the Rams got a quick goal to end it early in OT. It seems closing out the game will be something to focus on in practice.

Could have honestly come away with 2 wins this weekend. At this point likely going to have win the MAC to make the NCAA tournament. May have been the case regardless.

hapapp wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2024 10:57 am

AppfaninCAALand wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2024 7:21 am

Tough 3-2 OT loss to VCU

I saw similar positive and negatives as with the Richmond game. App carried a 2-1 lead with about 2 minutes to go in the 4th and gave up a late goal to send it to OT then the Rams got a quick goal to end it early in OT. It seems closing out the game will be something to focus on in practice.

Could have honestly come away with 2 wins this weekend. At this point likely going to have win the MAC to make the NCAA tournament. May have been the case regardless.

was always going to be the case. the mac is the worst field hockey conference in the country, a 0% chance it was ever going to be a two bid league

AppState222 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2024 3:41 pm

hapapp wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2024 10:57 am

AppfaninCAALand wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2024 7:21 am

Tough 3-2 OT loss to VCU

I saw similar positive and negatives as with the Richmond game. App carried a 2-1 lead with about 2 minutes to go in the 4th and gave up a late goal to send it to OT then the Rams got a quick goal to end it early in OT. It seems closing out the game will be something to focus on in practice.

Could have honestly come away with 2 wins this weekend. At this point likely going to have win the MAC to make the NCAA tournament. May have been the case regardless.

was always going to be the case. the mac is the worst field hockey conference in the country, a 0% chance it was ever going to be a two bid league

The MAC is not the worst field hockey conference (though its close), but making the FH tournament as an at-large is incredibly hard. There are only 8 spots and usually only go to the ACC and Big Ten, unless there is an obvious Top10 team that gets upset in their conference tournament - like Liberty last year.

App State beat JMU at JMU 4-3. THAT is HUGE!

We are turning into a Field Hockey school.

What a win.