Sunday, October 12
East Lansing, Mich.
12 PM
Michigan State University
1
vs
3
Appalachian State
Photo by: Rey Del Rio
Field Hockey Comeback Falls Short on Senior Day
10/12/2025 5:55:00 PM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State field hockey shutout Appalachian State in the second half of Sunday morning's game but ultimately fell 3-1 to the Mountaineers on Senior Day at Ralph Young Field.
MSU moves to 3-9 overall and returns to the pitch just two days from now when they welcome non-conference foe Ball State to East Lansing for mid-week action on Tuesday, October 14. Pass back is set for 1:00 p.m.
Despite dropping the match, 3-1, Michigan State owned a 17-11 advantage in shots and an 11-8 edge in shots on goal. The Spartans had 113 penalty corner opportunities to six for App State.
Freshman Caroline Horace tallied her team-leading third goal of the season on Sunday, while graduate Maddie Lawlor earned her first assist of the season. Graduate Tatum Johnson led the Spartans with four shots on goal off the bench, mostly working off corner chances. Junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino made three saves, while freshman Emmy Wellejus earned a defensive save.
Appalachian State quickly took a 2-0 lead in the first, converting on two penalty corner chances in the 10th minute of action. The Mountaineers took a 3-0 lead early in the second scoring in the 17th minute.
The Spartan offense found a new gear coming out of halftime. In the 38th minute, Lawlor intercepted a Mountaineer pass and started a breakaway the opposite way. Lawlor dribbled the ball down field on the break and sent a pass over to Horace, who hammered home the Michigan State's first goal of the day.
MSU kept its foot on the gas earning three penalty corners in the final two minutes of the third period. MSU got off four shots but was unable to convert, keeping the score at 3-1 entering the fourth period.
Michigan State looked to take advantage of a man-up situation with just under five minutes to play in regulation when Johnson fired a shot on goal, but a nearby Mountaineer defender made the defensive save.
In the final two minutes of action MSU looked to take advantage of five penalty corner opportunities, mustering up five shots. Junior Bianca Pizano and sophomore Lillian Knorr each had shots on goal saved as time wound down to zero.
The Spartans out-shot Appalachian State 14-3 in the second half with eight shots on goal to just one by the Mountaineers.
MSU moves to 3-9 overall and returns to the pitch just two days from now when they welcome non-conference foe Ball State to East Lansing for mid-week action on Tuesday, October 14. Pass back is set for 1:00 p.m.
Despite dropping the match, 3-1, Michigan State owned a 17-11 advantage in shots and an 11-8 edge in shots on goal. The Spartans had 113 penalty corner opportunities to six for App State.
Freshman Caroline Horace tallied her team-leading third goal of the season on Sunday, while graduate Maddie Lawlor earned her first assist of the season. Graduate Tatum Johnson led the Spartans with four shots on goal off the bench, mostly working off corner chances. Junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino made three saves, while freshman Emmy Wellejus earned a defensive save.
Appalachian State quickly took a 2-0 lead in the first, converting on two penalty corner chances in the 10th minute of action. The Mountaineers took a 3-0 lead early in the second scoring in the 17th minute.
The Spartan offense found a new gear coming out of halftime. In the 38th minute, Lawlor intercepted a Mountaineer pass and started a breakaway the opposite way. Lawlor dribbled the ball down field on the break and sent a pass over to Horace, who hammered home the Michigan State's first goal of the day.
Senior Maddie Lawlor gets the takeaway at midfield and finds Caroline Horace for a Spartan goal in the third! pic.twitter.com/3YYqycFQIQ
— Michigan State Field Hockey (@MSU_FieldHockey) October 12, 2025
MSU kept its foot on the gas earning three penalty corners in the final two minutes of the third period. MSU got off four shots but was unable to convert, keeping the score at 3-1 entering the fourth period.
Michigan State looked to take advantage of a man-up situation with just under five minutes to play in regulation when Johnson fired a shot on goal, but a nearby Mountaineer defender made the defensive save.
In the final two minutes of action MSU looked to take advantage of five penalty corner opportunities, mustering up five shots. Junior Bianca Pizano and sophomore Lillian Knorr each had shots on goal saved as time wound down to zero.
The Spartans out-shot Appalachian State 14-3 in the second half with eight shots on goal to just one by the Mountaineers.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
B
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