By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A four-headed offensive monster attacked Carolina on Oct. 13, with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in the driver’s seat. The Atlanta Falcons swept past the Panthers, 38-20.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns, while teammate Tyler Allgeier added 105 yards running and a TD of his own. The tandem with a 1-2 punch accounted for all of the Falcons’ net yards rushing.
Carolina wide receiver Diontae Johnson comes down with TD reception vs. Atlanta on Oct. 13. Photo courtesy of the Carolina Panthers.
Meanwhile, Cousins completed 19 of 30 passes for 225 yards and a TD. Well over half of his aerial production saw wide receiver Drake London (6 catches, 74 yards, 1 TD) and tight end Kyle Pitts (3 catches, 70 yards) on the receiving end.
There were bright spots for Carolina, including a game-opening drive that kept Atlanta’s offense off the field for 6:33 in 12 plays, covering 67 yards, and ending with a touchdown to take an early lead. The score came with QB Andy Dalton finding veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson for a 10-yard completion in the end zone.
With Dalton holding the reins of the Carolina offense, the Panthers continue to show promise. Nicknamed the “Red Rifle” for his earlier high school (Katy, Texas), college (TCU) and nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Dalton completed 26 of 38 passes for 221 yards and two TDs, but also hurled two pass interceptions that short-circuited promising scoring opportunities.
Panther running back Chuba Hubbard continues to show why the Panthers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State, carrying the ball 18 times for 92 yards against the Falcons. Since Dalton became the QB starter in Week 3 at Las Vegas, this marks the fourth consecutive game that Hubbard has been over or just under the 100-yard mark, rushing.
Also with Dalton pulling the trigger, Johnson is also living up to Panther Nation’s expectations when the club signed him in free agency after five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Against the Falcons, he pulled in six passes for 78 yards, including one TD, building on the momentum he started building in Week 3 with Dalton (122 receiving yards and a TD at the Raiders) and Week 4 (83 yards and a TD vs. the Cincinnati Bengals).
Carolina kept the game close through the first half, going into intermission with just a 22-17 deficit. But three Atlanta scoring drives at the end of the third quarter and through the final stanza without a response from the Panthers proved to be too much to overcome. The loss to their NFC South Division rivals drops the Queen City side to 1-5 on the season so far while, at 4-2, Atlanta remains atop the NFC South tied with Tampa Bay, a 51-27 winner in New Orleans in Week 6.
By David Rogers. LAFAYETTE, La. — In spite of committing five turnovers — four pass interceptions and a lost fumble — Appalachian State kept its Sun Belt Conference football hopes alive at Louisiana until the closing minutes. Ultimately, though, the drive killers were too much to overcome, the Ragin’ Cajuns coming out on top, 34-24.
There was a lot to like about the Mountaineers’ offensive performance but the turnovers overwhelmed any positive momentum. Senior quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 20-of-42 passes for 236 yards and three TDs, but all of that was nullified by the four pass interceptions crafted by Louisiana.
Mountaineer QB Joey Aguilar passed for 236 yards and 3 TDs, but also had four INTs in the 34-24 loss to Louisiana on Oct. 12. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
Once again the Mountaineers held the advantage in time of possession, 30:40 to Louisiana’s 29:20, and ran 77 total plays to the Cajuns’ 59 plays. Much of the credit for those opportunities should go to a ground attack headed by running back Kanye Roberts, who carried the ball 26 times for 148 yards. Ironically, the redshirt sophomore’s only success in finding the end zone came on the receiving end of a 15-yard pass from Aguilar with just 27 seconds left in the first half, closing the Mountaineer deficit to just three points, 17-14, as the teams packed up for intermission.
Also notable on the offensive side for the Mountaineers was the connection between Aguilar and the redshirt senior who has become his favorite receiver, Kaedin Robinson. The Asheville native — who played prep ball at The Christ School and junior college football for ASA Brooklyn (NY) and transferred to the University of Central Florida in 2021 before finding a home at App State in 2022 — was on the receiving end of critical, 3rd- and 4th-and long receptions to extend drives. He ended the night with seven catches for 96 yards.
App State converted more than 57 percent of its 3rd down conversion opportunities (8-of-14) and was successful on its only 4th down attempt. The Mountaineers rolled up 391 yards of total offense compared to 364 for the Ragin’ Cajuns, but Louisiana committed only one turnover, an interception by safety Jordan Favors. The redshirt junior poached a deep pass from Louisiana QB Ben Wooldridge intended for wide receiver Robert Williams, on the Mountaineers’ 16 yard line.
Favors’ INT came at a critical time. Aquilar had just brought the Mountaineers back to within a field goal, 27-24, with a 26-yard TD pass to senior tight end Eli Wilson, so giving the ball back to App State with 5:38 left in the game meant the visitors could somehow come away with an unlikely win with a TD or potentially tie the game with a field goal.
Kanye Roberts (14) scores a TD on a 15-yard pass from Joey Aguilar at Louisiana on Oct. 12. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
With Roberts ripping off rushes of 6, 7, and 6 yards on the ensuing possession, the comeback looked possible. Unfortunately, a pass intended for 6-4 redshirt junior wide receiver Dalton Stroman became a 50/50 ball, and the Ragin’ Cajuns’ defensive back Tyrone Lewis came down with it just before falling to the ground — and short-circuiting App State’s comeback hopes.
Big plays again the Mountaineers’ Achilles Heel
As has happened vs. opponents in earlier games this season, Louisiana capitalized on several big plays, especially in the first half. Those included a 28-yard pass in the first quarter from Wooldridge to Lance Legendre that took the ball from midfield to the App State 16-yard line, the drive ending with the game’s first score, a 32-yard field goal by Louisiana’s placekicker, Kenneth Almendares. While the redshirt senior from Clute, Texas barely missed on a 60-yard field goal try in the first half, his 53-yarder toward the end of the third quarter gave Louisiana a late lead, 20-17.
Arguably the biggest play of the game for the Ragin’ Cajuns came just a couple of minutes into the second quarter, after App State took a 7-3 lead on the visitors’ most impressive possession of the game. It was dominated by 10 rushes by Roberts out of 12 plays run by the Mountaineers that moved the ball from their own 23-yard line to a 3rd-and-goal opportunity at the Ragin’ Cajuns’ one-yard line. With everyone looking to Roberts for a punch-in score to finish the drive off, Aguilar faked the handoff to his running back and found redshirt junior tight end David Larkins alone in the right corner of the end zone.
Undaunted, Louisiana was quick to respond. After the kickoff return put the ball at the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 26-yard line, on the first play of the series Wooldridge dropped back and hurled a pass that was caught by tight end Terrance Carter just over the midfield line, surrounded by three Mountaineer defenders. Somehow, the redshirt sophomore from Killeen, Texas wrestled free from the defenders, spinning away, then sprinting down the sideline for a 74-yard TD.
App State linebacker Kyle Arnholt (56) applies pressure against Louisiana QB Ben Wooldridge on Oct. 12. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
Altogether, Louisiana picked up 133 yards on four chunk plays passing and another 67 yards on four rushing carries each gaining more than 10 yards, three of them in the first quarter.
While App State’s defensive unit gave up too many big plays, they also helped keep the game close by rallying at critical times to deprive the Ragin’ Cajuns of converting on third down. Louisiana was successful on just six of 13 third down opportunities (37.5 percent). In the end, though, it is rare for an FBS-level college football team to survive five turnovers when the opponent only commits one.
With the loss, App State falls to 2-4 on the season, 0-3 in Sun Belt Conference play. With conference championship aspirations all but dashed, the Mountaineers will need to win at least four of their remaining six games to become bowl eligible. They have a bye next week, but return to action on Saturday, Oct. 26, for a Homecoming matchup vs. Georgia State. The game is tentatively scheduled to be played at Kidd Brewer Stadium but, given the widespread regional damage from Hurricane Helene, the final decision has not yet been made as to the location, as of this writing.
Now 5-1 overall and undefeated (2-0) in Sun Belt play, Louisiana travels to Coastal Carolina on Oct. 19, for a 12 noon (Eastern time) clash.
THE WEEK’S SUN BELT CONFERENCE SCORES
@Louisiana 34, App State 24
Old Dominion 21, @Georgia State 14
@ULM 38, Southern Miss 21
@Texas State 41, Arkansas State 9
@Georgia Southern 24, Marshall 23
SUN BELT STANDINGS
East Division
1 – Georgia Southern (SBC 2-0, overall 4-2)
T2 – James Madison (1-1, 5-1)
T2 – Coastal Carolina (1-1, 4-2)
T2 – Marshall (1-1, 3-3)
T2 – Old Dominion (1-1, 2-4)
6 – Georgia State (0-2, 2-3)
7 – App State (0-3, 2-4)
West Division
1 – ULM (3-0, 5-1)
T2 – Louisiana (2-0, 5-1)
T2 – Texas State (2-0, 4-2)
T4 – Arkansas State (1-1, 3-3)
T4 – South Alabama (1-1, 2-4)
T6 – Southern Miss (0-2, 1-5)
T6 – Troy (0-2, 1-5)
GAME STATS
Game Stats courtesy of Louisiana and StatBroadcast
By Katherine Jamtgaard. NORFOLK, Va. — The App State volleyball team fell short vs. Old Dominion on Oct. 12, 3-0, (13-25, 16-25, 21-25). After splitting the weekend in Norfolk, App State stands 9-6 on the season and 3-1 in Sun Belt Conference play.
“ODU is a good volleyball team and we are happy we were able to win night one. While we are not happy with the result today, we will take the split on the road,” said head coach Sarah Rumely Noble. “We will get better this week in practice and stay driven to get better every day.”
Old Dominion 3, App State 0
Freshman Elise Marchal led the Mountaineers with a team high 10 kills and 10 digs for her third consecutive double-double and sixth double-double on the season. Fellow freshman Bella Hutchens matched her career high nine kills, which she originally recorded on Sept. 21 against Davidson and first matched on Sept. 27 against James Madison. Redshirt junior Addison Heidemann registered 27 of the Mountaineers’ 34 assists and made seven digs. Heidemann and senior Lulu Ambrose served up the Black and Gold’s sole pair of aces.
Old Dominion commanded the first two sets. The Mountaineers chipped away at ODU’s early 6-0 lead with kills from junior Maya Winterhoff and Marchal and an ODU error. Winterhoff and Marchal combined for six of the App State’s 10 kills in the first set. Despite the Mountaineers’ efforts to close the deficit, ODU took the first set, 25-13.
In the second set, ODU once again pulled ahead early. The Mountaineers cut the deficit to four (14-10), building off kills from Marchal and Winterhoff. Winterhoff, Marchal, and Hutchens combined for nine of the Black and Gold’s 11 kills over the course of the set. App State came back within four (20-16) after a Hutchens kill and pair of ODU errors, but despite the Mountaineers’ efforts, ODU took the set, 25-16.
App State and ODU knotted the score six times and swapped the lead twice early in the third and final set. The Mountaineers built off kills from Winterhoff, Marchal, Ambrose, and sophomore Ava Leahy to knot the score at 4-4. Ambrose served up an ace to give the Mountaineers a 5-4 edge. A kill from Hutchens tied the score at 7-7 , but the Monarchs found momentum. App State found a spark late in the set, chipping away at the deficit with a kill from Hutchens, an ace from Heidemann, and kills from Marchal and Ambrose. It wasn’t enough as the Monarchs took the set 25-21, and the match, 3-0.
By Layne McNary. OXFORD, Ohio – The App State field hockey team was defeated by the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, 1-0, on Oct. 11. It’s the first league loss for the Mountaineers (7-5, 4-1 MAC) this season following four victories.
The Mountaineer defense held firm in Friday’s matchup against Miami (7-6, 4-1 MAC), holding a Redhawk offense that averages eight shots on goal a game to just five.
How it Happened
1st Quarter: The game began tight on both sides. The Mountaineers held their own defensively, with goalkeeper Claire Grenis getting an early save. Miami earned its only corner of the half in the first qyarter, setting up freshman Henriette Schlueter to score the lone goal of the game.
2nd Quarter: It was a defensive period for both teams, with the Mountaineers tallying one shot to Miami’s zero. The Redhawks earned four cards in the period, two green and two yellow, giving the Mountaineers player advantages in the period. App State held a bulk of the possession but found it difficult to find clean chances on which to capitalize.
3rd Quarter: It was another defensive period coming out of halftime, with Grenis earning three saves in the period. The Redhawk defense held the Mountaineers shotless in the period, while forcing four corners as a result.
4th Quarter: The final period was close, with the Mountaineers holding Miami shotless. The Redhawks also made it tough for App State in the fourth, holding the Mountaineers to two shots, none on goal. App forced one corner in the fourth but could not find the back of the cage off the set piece.
App State returns to Boone on Sunday, Oct. 13, to face No. 1-ranked North Carolina (9-0 overall, 4-0 ACC) on the Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Adcock Field Hockey Complex. The Tar Heels, ranked No. 1 nationally by the NCAA and Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll, last tested the Mountaineers in 2023, winning 6-1.
By Katherine Jamtgaard. NORFOLK, Va. — The App State volleyball team defeated Old Dominion, 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11), on the road Oct. 11. With the win, the Mountaineers improve to 9-5 on the season and 3-0 in Sun Belt play.
The Mountaineers return to the court at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, for a second match against the Monarchs.
App State 3, Old Dominion 1
Senior Lulu Ambrose led App State with 12 kills on the night. Junior Maya Winterhoff served up a team-high four aces in addition to making nine kills and five blocks. Sophomore Ava Leahy led the team with seven blocks while redshirt junior Addison Heidemann recorded a team high 34 assists. In the digs category, junior Kenady Roper tallied a team high 11 digs. Freshman Elise Marchal registered her fifth career double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs.
App State served up 13 aces compared to ODU’s four and tallied 12 blocks to ODU’s eight.
Ambrose put the Mountaineers on the board in the first set with a kill. Though ODU matched the score at 1-1, it was the sole tie of the set, as the Mountaineers took control of the lead with a 3-0 run that included a Marchal kill and Winterhoff ace. App State extended the lead to 11-5, building off kills from Winterhoff and Marchal and an ace from Heidemann. Back-to-back kills from Ambrose and a kill from Leahy pulled the Mountaineers ahead, 16-9. Building off a block from the duo of freshman Bella Hutchens and Leahy, as well as a kill from Hutchens, App State reached a 20-12 lead. A pair of kills from Winterhoff and a pair of ODU errors brought the Black and Gold to set point (24-16). The Monarchs managed to hold the Mountaineers to two set points, but App State took the set, 25-18, after an ODU attack error.
The Mountaineers and Monarchs tied thrice and exchanged the lead twice early in the second set. Taking an early 5-3 edge, ODU maintained their lead through the set, despite the Mountaineers’ efforts to close the deficit. The Mountaineers came within two of the Monarchs’ lead on three occasions, but it wasn’t enough as ODU edged ahead to take the set, 25-21.
In the third set, App State took an early 6-3 lead with a 4-0 scoring run that included kills from Ambrose and Leahy. ODU edged ahead, 9-7, with a 4-0 run of its own. Back-to-back kills from Hutchens knotted the score at 10 all. With a kill from Marchal, an ace from sophomore Taylor McNear, and a block from Winterhoff and Marchal, App State pulled ahead, 13-11. With a 4-0 run that included a kill from Leahy, a block from Ambrose and Leahy, and back-to-back aces from Marchal, App State extended the deficit to 18-13. Leahy, Winterhoff, Marchal, and Ambrose contributed kills to bring the Mountaineers to set point. ODU managed to hold App State to two set points, but Heidemann set Ambrose up for the kill to seal the set, 25-22, for the Mountaineers.
App State commanded the fourth and final set, taking an early 7-1 lead that featured three consecutive aces from Winterhoff. Seven of the Black and Gold’s 13 aces were served up in the final set. The Mountaineers went on a 6-0 run to rise to a 17-6 lead as Winterhoff and Hutchens made kills, Heidemann served up back-to-back aces, and the duos of Winterhoff and Hutchens and Winterhoff and Marchal went up for blocks. Ambrose slammed down back-to-back kills to extend the deficit to 22-9. Kills from Marchal and Ambrose brought the Mountaineers to set and match point, 24-11. App State took the set, 25-11, and the match, 3-0, after an ODU error.
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — Playing on its home turf for the first time in 35 days, App State Soccer increased its unbeaten streak to five consecutive games, following a 2-2 draw with Coastal Carolina at The Valley.
The Mountaineers (5-3-4, 2-0-2) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Less than four minutes into the contest, Olivia Simon jumped a passing lane to win possession and threaded a pass through the legs of a Chanticleer defender to find Izzi Wood, who drilled it into the top-right corner of the goal.
Coastal Carolina (5-4-5, 1-1-3) equalized the score in the early minutes of the second half. Yasmin Azar was able to beat her Mountaineer defender down the sideline and fed a pass in front to Eleanor Ashton, who was able to tap it home to tie the score at 1-1.
App State’s Hayden Petrick (5) maneuvers the ball vs. Coastal Carolina on Oct. 10, 2024. Photo by Joseph Chapman, courtesy of App State Athletics
Following the equalizer, App State generated numerous scoring chances in the minutes that followed, their efforts paying off with a go-ahead goal in the 62nd minute. Off a Stephanie Barbosa corner kick, Ellie Garrison leapt in the air and headed the ball to Wood, who delivered a header of her own into the back of the net.
The goal was Wood’s eighth of the season, tying her for the Sun Belt Conference lead. It was also goal No. 23 of her career, moving Wood into fifth place on the App State all-time scoring list. She has now scored seven goals in her last seven games.
Mountaineer goalkeeper Sarah Wommack, Oct. 10, 2024, vs. Coastal Carolina. Photo by Joseph Chapman, courtesy of App State Athletics
App State carried the 2-1 lead into the closing minutes but, with two minutes to play, Coastal Carolina’s Ashton came through with a brace of her own, curling a free kick just inside the near post to level the score at 2-2.
App State outshot the Chanticleers 14-6 overall and 8-4 in shots on target, led by six shots from Wood and five from Garrison.
Noteworthy: Ella Hoover made her first career start for the Mountaineers, while Shannon Studer returned to action after missing her past three games due to injury.
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Sunday when they face off with Marshall at 1 p.m. in Huntington, W. Va.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With things normalizing in the High Country after the broad swath of destruction, including school and business closures, caused by Hurricane Helene, Watauga High School athletics director Dustin Kerley released an updated schedule of competition for all Fall sports, subject to any future weather-related modifications.
Things get started in earnest again on Monday, Oct. 14, with events scheduled for Women’s Tennis, Women’s Golf, Volleyball, and Men’s Soccer. Cross Country has a Northwestern Conference meet scheduled in Lenoir on Wed., Oct. 16, and Watauga has its first post-disaster Football game on Friday, Oct. 18, at Alexander Central (kickoff has been moved up to 6:30 p.m. due to an 11 p.m. curfew).
It is important to note that while Junior Varsity events have been scheduled, Varsity events are prioritized. Therefore, JV competitions may be cancelled due to numerous circumstances including but not limited to site/field availability, official availability, staffing, or timing because of reporting deadlines for playoffs.
Updated: 10/10/24
Women’s Tennis
Mon 10/14: 4A Qualifier @ South Caldwell – Coaches Meeting @ 12:00 & Play @ 1:00
Tues 11/5: Watauga @ South Caldwell JV/V 4:30/6:00
Wed 11/6: Rain Date
Football
Fri 10/18: Watauga @ Alexander 6:30pm (Due to 11pm Curfew)
Fri 10/25: Hibriten @ Watauga 7:30pm
Fri 11/1: Freedom @ Watauga 7:30pm
Tues 11/5: Watauga @ Ashe 7:00pm (No JV Game vs Ashe)
Fri 11/8: Watauga @ South Caldwell 7:30pm (Could be moved up to 6:30 if needed for curfew)
*****JV Games are scheduled be played on Thursday @ opposite sites @ 7:00pm unless otherwise noted*****
******Note Regarding JV Games for ALL Sports*****
Varsity games will be prioritized therefore JV contests could be cancelled due numerous circumstances including but not limited to site/field availability, official availability, staffing, or timing due to reporting deadlines for playoffs.
By David Rogers. HUNTINGTON, W.V. — Dominating time of possession in a football game is important — but not as important as keeping your time-deprived opponent out of the end zone.
App State had possession 10-plus minutes more than host Marshall in Joan C. Edwards Stadium but could not contain The Thundering Herd in a 52-37 Sun Belt Conference loss.
Kudos to Marshall University for a pre-game display of human compassion: proceeds from a student car-smashing fundraiser are earmarked for the App State Disaster Relief Fund.
App State QB Joey Aguilar. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
Hard to Overcome
Two turnovers (both pass interceptions), four quarterback sacks, seven pass breakups, nine quarterback hurries and eight tackles for loss by the Marshall defense were problematic for the visiting Mountaineers, compounded by 15 penalties for 158 yards. Combined, they all but short-circuited App State scoring opportunities.
Without question, the App State offense led by QB Joey Aguilar was able to move the football, the senior signal caller completing 26-of-44 passes for 293 yards but two TDs offset by the two pass interceptions.
In 35:24 time of possession (compared to just 24:26 for Marshall), the Mountaineers rolled up 473 yards of total offense but had a hard time stopping The Thundering Herd’s quick-strike offense led by backup QB, Braylon Braxton, standing in for an injured Cole Pennington.
Braxton didn’t act like a fill-in, serving as Marshall’s leading rusher in carrying the ball 15 times for 140 yards and two TDs. Complimenting his day’s work: completing 8-of-14 pass for 129 yards, three TDs and no INTs.
Kanye Roberts (14) scores App State’s first TD at Marshall on Oct. 5. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
The Mountaineers were playing for the first time in 16 days after Hurricane Helene struck the western North Carolina mountains a week earlier with massive flooding from torrential rainfall and high winds causing an unprecedented amount of destruction in the High Country and classes being canceled at least for the foreseeable future.
The home game on Sept. 28 vs. Liberty was also canceled and practices cobbled together as best they could under the circumstances as coaches, staff, and players dealt with the storm damage, including loss of power, internet capabilities and significant property damage. To play a college football game at any level while balancing personal needs in a natural disaster with game preparation is nothing short of courageous, even if it helped restore a sense of normalcy for the university and its supporters.
Among the highlights:
App State kept the game close in the early going, even going ahead, 10-7, after reserve placekicker Jackson Moore’s 42-yard field goal midway through the first quarter got the Mountaineers on the board, then running back Kanye Roberts capped off a 14-play, 94-yard drive early in the second period with a 10-yard TD run around the left side.
A swing pass by Aguilar to Roberts on the left side was, unfortunately, a little behind the running back. In reaching back, Roberts bobbled it in the air where it was gathered in by Marshall linebacker J’Coryan Anderson and returned 13 yards for a “Pick 6” TD. That was the first play from scrimmage after The Herd’s Jordan Houston converted a short pass from Braxton into a 75-yard TD sprint down the left sideline, the two plays not only putting Marshall back on top, but giving the home team a 21-10 lead they would never relinquish.
Among the bright spots for the Mountaineers was converting 6-of-6 fourth downs, turning them into first downs and extending drives. One of those was a 4th-and-5 situation on the Marshall 21 yard line, an Aguilar pass to wide receiver Dalton Stroman cutting across the middle for a TD, the first of two TDs thrown to the junior WR. The second TD pass was a 27-yarder in which Stroman drug his right foot in the end zone just after securing the catch.
Aguilar helped extend drives with his legs, too, serving as the Mountaineers’ top rusher on the day with 10 carries for 55 yards. Running back Ahmani Marshall also carried the ball 10 times for 48 yards and a pair of TDs, while Roberts toted the pigskin 13 times for 35 yards and the team’s first TD.
By midway through the third quarter, Marshall led by three touchdowns, 38-17, but the Mountaineers effectively traded scoring opportunities with their hosts, scoring 20 more points in the last 19 minutes of play.
With reported uncertainty as to where App State will play its remaining home games given the hurricane-related damage to Boone and the surrounding area, the Mountaineers’ next scheduled contest is at Louisiana on Saturday, October 12, 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
All game statistics compiled and distributed courtesy of StatBroadcast
By Matt Present. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a hard-fought, sporadic contest that was moved to the campus of Queens University in Charlotte due to the effects of Hurricane Helene, a late App State goal from Kyli Switalski in the 72nd minute of play evened the score at one apiece, forcing a 1-1 draw on Friday night against Georgia State. The goal was the freshman’s second of the year.
The draw allowed App State (5-3-3, 2-0-1 SBC) to remain unbeaten in Sun Belt play, making them one of three teams with an unblemished conference record as of Friday’s games.
Izzi Wood (4) maneuvers the ball past a Georgia State defender on Oct. 4. Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
Despite being held scoreless for 72 minutes to start the game, the Mountaineers were not held quiet on offense as they tallied 12 shots, 10 coming in the second half alone, with four being on goal. Izzi Wood generated several scoring chances herself, which included two shots almost consecutively in the 58th minute.
Georgia State (1-6-5, 0-1-3) opened the scoring with a late first-half goal off the left foot of Aaliyah Faddoul, the Panthers’ leading scorer. It was the only goal to get past Mountaineer keeper Sarah Wommack all night.
Mumu Guisasola (22) leads the App State celebration after Kyli Switalski’s goal in the 72nd minute of App State’s match vs. Georgia State on Oct. 4. Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
Action picked up significantly in the second half of this high-tempo contest as App State controlled the ball in attacking position for most of the period before Switalski’s goal. Shots came from all over with both Ellie Garrison and Sydney Snowden taking shots at the net, but the score held serve.
It wasn’t until a free kick after a foul on the Panthers did the Mountaineers’ persistence pay off. From just outside the box, Switalski took the free kick chance and rifled a shot to the lower third of the net, finally helping the Mountaineers break through on the scoreboard.
After the equalizer, App State remained aggressive, firing three more shots at the net in the final 18 minutes. A rocket off the foot of Stephanie Barbosa nearly gave the Mountaineers a late lead, but it missed just high.
As part of App State’s 12 shots, nine came from the trio of Wood, Barbosa and Garrison.
The Mountaineers are scheduled to play Thursday, Oct. 10 against Coastal Carolina. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m., tentatively at the Ted Mackeroll Soccer Complex.
Our community and many in our region have been impacted by the effects of Hurricane Helene in devastating ways. I echo Chancellor Norris’ heartfelt thanks to emergency responders, volunteers, utility providers and many others for their response to this crisis. We are also deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and assistance we are receiving from individuals, universities and organizations around the country.
As Watauga County Emergency Services Director Will Holt, Town of Boone Mayor Tim Futrelle and Chancellor Norris shared in a press conference yesterday, this is an unprecedented situation for App State and the High Country. Our immediate focus is the well-being of students, staff and our community, as well as recovery efforts, both short-term and long-term.
We are grateful to report that all student-athletes and athletics staff have been accounted for and are safe. Some have lost their homes. Many are without power, water and cell service, and have experienced damage to their property and possessions.
We appreciate everyone keeping our beloved home in your thoughts. Please consider giving to the App State Disaster Relief Fund to support Mountaineer students, faculty and staff.
Below are a few updates from the athletics department in regards to our current operations.
In the midst of the active emergency response in our area, our situation remains fluid as it relates to team practices and scheduling for home and away events.
Fall sport teams have sporadically resumed practice and competition, with schedules being altered as needed to practice or play away from Boone or to reschedule home events for later dates. Stay tuned to AppStateSports.com and individual sports’ social media accounts for timely updates.
Football is preparing for its upcoming trip to Marshall this weekend.
There has been damage sustained at some facilities, most notably Varsity Gym and the Holmes Convocation Center. Damage assessment and cleanup began immediately and are ongoing.
We ask for everyone’s patience regarding football ticket implications from the Liberty game cancellation and other ongoing event ticket implications.
We will continue to provide updates about scheduling, tickets and facility access as the picture becomes clearer.
One of the hallmarks of Mountaineers is our resilient spirit. Together we will get through this. We are Mountain Strong.
