BOONE, N.C. – App State struck for two goals in an eight-minute span in the first half, on their way to a 2-1 victory over UT Martin at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex, Thursday.
After back-to-back scoreless ties to begin the season,
Anna Kate Highsmith opened the scoring in the 19
th minute when she received a cross from
Shannon Studer and tapped it inside the far post, to give the Mountaineers (1-0-2) a 1-0 lead.
App State controlled the opening 45 minutes of play with their high-pressure defense. In the 27
th minute
Izzi Wood created a turnover, took a few dribbles, and fired a shot into the bottom left corner of the net to increase the Mountaineers' lead to 2-0. App State out-shot the Skyhawks 10-5 in the opening half of play.
The Skyhawks (0-2-0) were able to cut the lead in half in the 53
rd minute when Megan Drake received a lead pass from Alba Delgado and tucked a shot inside the left post to make it 2-1.
With 14 minutes to go in regulation, the Skyhawks threatened to tie the score, but senior goalkeeper
Kerry Eagleston made the biggest save of the match, tipping a shot off the crossbar to maintain the lead for App State.
The win was the first for Head Coach
Aimee Haywood in her Mountaineer career. App State outshot UT Martin 15-9, including a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal, led by two apiece from Wood, Highsmith, and
Felicia Erkenfeldt.
App State will hit the road this weekend as they take on George Mason at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Fairfax, Va.
