By Matt Present. CULLOWHEE, N.C. – With just over a minute to play, Ellie Garrison raced to a loose ball in the box, swung her left leg and drilled the game-winning goal to complete a brace and lift App State to a 3-2 road victory over Western Carolina to open the season.
Garrison, who was named a Preseason All-Sun Belt selection and a National Midfielder to Watch by United Soccer Coaches also converted a first-half penalty kick to register her second career two-goal game.
In the first meeting between the long-time SoCon rivals since 2013, App State (1-0) opened the scoring in the tenth minute of play. Graduate student Izzi Wood raced down the right wing and delivered a pinpoint cross to Kyli Switalski, who scored the season’s first goal, bouncing the shot off a Catamount defender and into the back of the net. The redshirt sophomore finished with a team-high four shots in the contest.
Despite App State carrying a 2-0 lead into halftime, Western Carolina battled back to tie the match in the second half, scoring on a pair of penalty kicks, one in the 50th minute and another in the 74th minute of play.
Garrison’s game-winning goal came with 69 seconds to play. Anna Claire Jacobi began the play with a goal kick. Garrison, from midfield, headed the ball to Switalski on the left wing. The redshirt sophomore from High Point, N.C., dribbled into the Catamount end and crossed the ball into the box where Wood was waiting. A Western Carolina defender slide-tackled the ball away from Wood, but Garrison was able to win the footrace — and win the game for App State.
The Mountaineers showcased their depth in the season opener, with six Mountaineers making their collegiate debuts. Jacobi, a redshirt freshman, started as the Mountaineer goalkeeper, while true freshman Maddie Williams played all 90 minutes starting at center back.
App State will open its home season on Sunday when the Mountaineers welcome the Miami Hurricanes to Boone for the first ever meeting between the two programs. Kickoff from The Valley is set for 1 p.m. and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
BOX SCORE
