BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State field hockey will face No.12 Stanford in the first round of the NorPac Conference Tournament Thursday, the league announced today.

Appalachian who enters the tournament as the fourth seed from the NorPac East division, will meet the tournament host Cardinal for the first time since dropping a 4-1 decision at home in the 2008 season.

Stanford enters the conference tournament with a 5-1 record in NorPac play and a 13-4 mark overall with the lone blemish on their conference record coming at the hands of California Sept. 27 at Berkeley.

The Cardinal boast perhaps the league's most potent offense, with a lineup that features the NorPac's top three point producers. Freshman Becky Dru leads the league with 27 points (10 goals, seven assists), and is followed closely by junior midfielder Jaimee Erickson with 26 points (seven goals, 12 assists), and senior midfielder Midori Uehara, who has tallied 24 points (11 goals, two assists).

Appalachian will make the trek out to Palo Alto looking to break an eight game losing streak. The Apps dropped a heartbreaker Sunday at Kidd Brewer Stadium, falling 2-1 to Longwood in double overtime in what was one of the most hotly contested matchups of the '09 season.

Junior forward Nicole Morgan leads the Mountaineer offense with 12 points on six goals this season while senior Jessie Harris has posted 11 points (five goals, one assist). Senior Kate Garnet (four goals, two assists) and freshman Lisa Charney (four goals, two assists) are tied for third on the team with 10 points apiece.

Thursday's opening round contest is scheduled for a 1:30 start, with the winner moving on to face either Longwood or Pacific at 1:30 Friday.