BOONE, N.C. – Despite playing with 10 players for the final 41 minutes of regulation, the Mountaineers were able to strike for the only goal of the match, and defeated ULM, 1-0, to open Sun Belt play.
Freshman defender
Shannon Studer scored that decisive goal for the Mountaineers, with a right-footed strike in the 64
th minute, curling the ball from the far side of the 18-yard box into the top of the near corner of the net.
Izzy Lusardi picked up her first assist on the play.
App State (2-3-4, 1-0-0) was able to overcome playing down a player, as midfielder
Katie Fuller was whistled for two yellow cards in the match, with the second coming just over three minutes into the second half.
Goalkeeper
Kerry Eagleston recorded her 16
th career shutout and fourth of the season. She also registered her 300
th career save in the opening half to become just the fourth player in program history to reach that milestone. Eagleston finished the match with nine saves, highlighted by a diving effort with 12 minutes to play to maintain App State's one-goal lead.
Offensively, the Mountaineers finished with a season-high 19 shots and a season-best 13 shots on goal, led by
Stephanie Barbosa who fired all three of her shots on target. Studer,
Breckyn Monteith, and
Izzi Wood added three shots on goal apiece.
App State opens conference play 1-0 for the first time since 2018 when they outlasted Troy on the road, 3-2, in double overtime.
The Mountaineers close out their three-match homestand by facing Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m. on Thursday for their Pack the Mack game. Fans 8
th grade and younger can participate in a penalty kick shootout on the field following the game. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
