Senior field hockey players Emily Knapp and Sarah Anderson have closed one chapter of their lives but have opened the door to the next.

Knapp, a technical photography major, and Anderson, a psychology major, share the common characteristic of both being out-of-state players, however each took a different road to arrive at Appalachian State University.

Knapp, a product of Langley High School, was influenced by her sister to pursue field hockey.

“My older sister played at University of Virginia, and so I kind of just followed in her footsteps and started playing my freshman year of high school,” Knapp said.

In her senior season at Langley, she was named first-team all-district and led the team in goals.

App State took notice of her at a recruiting event and sent her letters. Knapp eventually chose to become a Mountaineer over smaller, Division III programs, according to appstatesports.com.

“Division III was less commitment but also a lot less recognition,” Knapp said. “I just wanted to play at that higher level.”

Off the field, Knapp also excels in the classroom and was named to the NorPac, the conference in which field hockey competes, All-Academic Team. When she’s not playing field hockey Knapp puts her photography major to use.

“I love the outdoors, hiking and obviously photography is a part of that,” Knapp said.

After graduation, Knapp hopes to assist a photographer for a couple of years and then go freelance on her own.
Anderson’s path to Boone was a different one. Her field hockey career as a goalie began at an early age, but not on purpose.

“I started playing in the fifth grade and played for the YMCA,” Anderson said. “I played the field for a little bit but wasn’t very good so they made me play goalie.”

Anderson attended Kentucky Country Day where she was named to the senior all-star team, All-Kentucky Select second team and was a nominee for the Bunny Daughtery Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2008, according to appstatesports.com.

Anderson, a versatile athlete, also lettered multiple times in basketball and softball.

Although a standout athlete in high school, she was not recruited by App State but instead learned about the school through her older brother.

“I came on his visit to the school and really liked it and applied here not even thinking about field hockey,” Anderson said.

She was able to show the coaches her abilities and made the team. Four years later as a senior, Anderson’s hard work paid off.

In her final season she started all 18 games, posted 140 saves on the season for a .673 save percentage and was named NorPac East Defensive Player of the Week two straight weeks.

Despite taking different roads on their journey, they wound up in the same place at the same time for a career in field hockey at App State. And as they head into their final NorthPac postseason effort, their roads will once again separate as they graduate.

Story: Ben Cogsdale, Intern Sports Reporter