Pidcock’s Hat Trick Puts ‘Cats Past App. State 5-3

Sunday, September 23

Boone, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

(3-5)

Appalachian State

(2-7)

Team	1	2	Final F
Davidson	3	2	5
Appalachian State	1	2	3

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Pidcock’s Hat Trick Puts ‘Cats Past App. State 5-3

9/23/2012 2:51:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Ashley Bailey

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BOONE, N.C. – A breakout game by freshman Lucy Pidcock helped the Wildcat field hockey team to a 5-3 victory over Appalachian State in their opening NorPac game on Sunday afternoon.

Pidcock recorded her first career goal midway through the first half and followed it up with two more to mark the second hat trick by a 'Cats player this season. Finley Amato previously had one in the squad's 4-1 win over Ball State. Amato also had a tally of her own win over the Mountaineers, as did Annie Evans.

The Wildcats outshot the Mountaineers 17-12 with a dozen of their attempts coming on goal. Each team had 10 penalty corners, a well as a couple of green cards, in the hard-fought contest. Davidson goalkeeper Sarah Fisher finished with six saves on the day while her counterpart Sarah Anderson had seven.

Amato kicked off the scoring just under eight minutes in the game to put the 'Cats ahead 1-0, taking the ball in alone to the right side of the cage for the unassisted tally. App. State struck back soon after with a Lesley Thomas strike off of a penalty corner to tie things up at 1-1.

A Tyler McFayden pass made its way over to Pidcock, who sent the ball in past Anderson from the left side for her first career goal to put the game back in the Wildcats' favor at 2-1. Pidcock would send in another, this time unassisted, to put Davidson in front by two with 10 minutes to play in the first half.

Fisher started the second half off with back-to-back saves before App. State's Caroline Phillips was able to find the back of the net off of a penalty corner taken by Hannah French. The Mountaineers' goal put the score at 3-2, still in favor of the 'Cats four minutes in the second half.

App. State struck again a minute later to tie things up. Jessi Stuart sent the ball over to Megan High, who was able to send it in through a scramble in front of the net to make the score 3-3.

Amato had two strong attempts off of penalty corners, but was denied both times. However, the 'Cats persistence paid off as Melissa Funsten was able to find Pidcock off of Davidson's next penalty corner. Pidcock struck again for her third of the day and the season to give the Wildcats the 4-3 advantage with just under 15 to play in the game.

Evans added the insurance goal with less than four minutes to play, putting the ball past Anderson for her second of the season. The 'Cats would take the 5-3 win for their first NorPac victory of the season.

The 'Cats will return to Belk Turf Field to host top-ranked North Carolina in Tuesday in a 5 p.m. match up.