Michigan State University Athletics
Sunday, October 12
East Lansing, Mich.
12 PM
Michigan State University
vs
Appalachian State
Photo by: Evan Peacock
Spartans Host Appalachian State on Senior Day
10/10/2025 1:46:00 PM | Field Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State field hockey returns to action on Sunday, October 12th at 12 p.m. when the Spartans welcome Appalachian State to Ralph Young Field. MSU is set to host its Senior Day recognition on field prior to Sunday's game. Four seniors will be recognized pre-game, including Maddie Lawlor, Gracie Burns, Tatum Johnson and Alexa Shaffer. The contest will be streamed live on B1G+.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday marks the second time in program history that the two schools have met with the first match-up happening 25 years ago, when MSU defeated Appalachian State, 3-0, in a neutral site game played at Wake Forest. MSU leads the series 1-0, and Sunday's contest will mark the first time the Spartans have hosted the Mountaineers of Appalachian State in East Lansing.
ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE
Appalachian State comes into the weekend with sporting an 8-3 record (3-1 MAC). The Mountaineers are coming off an 0-2 weekend where they fell to conference opponent Miami (Ohio) 7-0, and nationally ranked #6 Liberty, 7-1, which resulted in them falling out of the national rankings after being ranked No. 18 the week prior.
Appalachian State's offense is spearheaded by a trio of players; senior midfielder Lise Boekaar, junior midfielder Sophia Baxter, and senior forward Hadley Kuzmicky. Boekaar leads the Mountaineers in all offensive categories tallying 10 goals, 16 assists, 36 points and 43 shots (25 shots on goal). Baxter trails with eight goals, two assists, 18 points and 30 shots (19 shots on goal). Kuzmicky follows with seven goals, two assists, 16 points and 21 shots (11 shots on goal). The trio has combined for 25 goals, 20 assists, 70 points and 94 shots (55 shots on goal).
Graduate student Claire Grenis enters the week as Appalachian State's top netminder. Grenis has started all 11 games in goal for the Mountaineers and boasts a .500 save percentage, while making 31 saves against 62 shots faced.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Michigan State and Appalachian State has played four of the same opponents through 11 games each. Both schools have faced off against Ohio, Miami (Ohio), Vermont and Bellarmine.
Both schools defeated Bellarmine and Ohio. Appalachian State won games against Bellarmine (2-0) and Ohio (5-3), whereas MSU defeated Bellarmine by a score of 2-1 and Ohio by a score of 5-0. MSU fell to Vermont 3-2, while Appalachian State defeated Vermont, 7-1. Both schools fell to Miami (Ohio) where the Spartans were defeated by a score of 3-1, and the Mountaineers were defeated, 7-0.
PREVIOUSLY FOR MSU
Michigan State went 0-2 last weekend, dropping its first game against #15 Rutgers, 5-0, before hosting #11 Maryland, and falling by a score of 2-0. The MSU defense kept the Spartans in the game against Maryland, holding the deficit to one through three periods before the Terrapins added their second goal of the game late in the fourth period.
EVEN DISTRIBUTION
Michigan State has had 11 different goal-scorers through seven games this season. Seven Spartans are tied for the team high in goals scored with two each.
Caro Schafer, Gracie Burns, Caroline Horace, Brynn Shaffer, Katelyn Dulin, Maddie Lawlor and Bianca Pizano have each scored twice. Schafer is the team-leader in points (7) with Burns, Horace and B. Shaffer close behind (5). Schafer and Alexa Shaffer are tied with three assists apiece this season.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will remain in East Lansing following its tilt against Appalachian State, when the Spartans host Ball State on Tuesday, October 14 at 1 p.m. and conference opponent Ohio State on Sunday, October 19 at 1 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday marks the second time in program history that the two schools have met with the first match-up happening 25 years ago, when MSU defeated Appalachian State, 3-0, in a neutral site game played at Wake Forest. MSU leads the series 1-0, and Sunday's contest will mark the first time the Spartans have hosted the Mountaineers of Appalachian State in East Lansing.
ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE
Appalachian State comes into the weekend with sporting an 8-3 record (3-1 MAC). The Mountaineers are coming off an 0-2 weekend where they fell to conference opponent Miami (Ohio) 7-0, and nationally ranked #6 Liberty, 7-1, which resulted in them falling out of the national rankings after being ranked No. 18 the week prior.
Appalachian State's offense is spearheaded by a trio of players; senior midfielder Lise Boekaar, junior midfielder Sophia Baxter, and senior forward Hadley Kuzmicky. Boekaar leads the Mountaineers in all offensive categories tallying 10 goals, 16 assists, 36 points and 43 shots (25 shots on goal). Baxter trails with eight goals, two assists, 18 points and 30 shots (19 shots on goal). Kuzmicky follows with seven goals, two assists, 16 points and 21 shots (11 shots on goal). The trio has combined for 25 goals, 20 assists, 70 points and 94 shots (55 shots on goal).
Graduate student Claire Grenis enters the week as Appalachian State's top netminder. Grenis has started all 11 games in goal for the Mountaineers and boasts a .500 save percentage, while making 31 saves against 62 shots faced.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Michigan State and Appalachian State has played four of the same opponents through 11 games each. Both schools have faced off against Ohio, Miami (Ohio), Vermont and Bellarmine.
Both schools defeated Bellarmine and Ohio. Appalachian State won games against Bellarmine (2-0) and Ohio (5-3), whereas MSU defeated Bellarmine by a score of 2-1 and Ohio by a score of 5-0. MSU fell to Vermont 3-2, while Appalachian State defeated Vermont, 7-1. Both schools fell to Miami (Ohio) where the Spartans were defeated by a score of 3-1, and the Mountaineers were defeated, 7-0.
PREVIOUSLY FOR MSU
Michigan State went 0-2 last weekend, dropping its first game against #15 Rutgers, 5-0, before hosting #11 Maryland, and falling by a score of 2-0. The MSU defense kept the Spartans in the game against Maryland, holding the deficit to one through three periods before the Terrapins added their second goal of the game late in the fourth period.
EVEN DISTRIBUTION
Michigan State has had 11 different goal-scorers through seven games this season. Seven Spartans are tied for the team high in goals scored with two each.
Caro Schafer, Gracie Burns, Caroline Horace, Brynn Shaffer, Katelyn Dulin, Maddie Lawlor and Bianca Pizano have each scored twice. Schafer is the team-leader in points (7) with Burns, Horace and B. Shaffer close behind (5). Schafer and Alexa Shaffer are tied with three assists apiece this season.
UP NEXT
Michigan State will remain in East Lansing following its tilt against Appalachian State, when the Spartans host Ball State on Tuesday, October 14 at 1 p.m. and conference opponent Ohio State on Sunday, October 19 at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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