FORT MYERS, Fla. – App State scored a pair of second-half goals just 24 seconds apart, helping the Mountaineers to a 2-1 victory over Florida Gulf Coast for the first road win of the season to round out non-conference play.
App State (3-3-2) snapped its three-game losing skid by reclaiming its defensive identity. The Mountaineers allowed just one goal on the night and limited the Eagles (1-4) to only three shots on target for the match.
The Mountaineers broke the scoreless tie in the 57th minute of play. Redshirt freshman
Kyli Switalski came off the bench for the Mountaineers and after receiving a pass from
Ellie Garrison, found
Izzi Wood, who delivered a right-footed strike into the bottom left corner to give App State a 1-0 lead. The goal was Wood's team-leading fourth tally of the season and her 19th career marker to move into sole possession of seventh on the all-time scoring list.
Off the ensuing kickoff, App State won the ball right back, and struck again just 24 seconds later, with
Garrison finding the net for her third goal of the season, finishing with her left foot off a pass from
Stephanie Barbosa. Garrison has registered ten points through her first eight career matches.
FGCU responded with a goal in the 62nd minute, but the Mountaineers held tough down the stretch to secure the victory in their first ever visit to FGCU.
The teams finished the night tied with 12 shots apiece, but App State held a two shot advantage in shots on target.
App State will open conference play on the road on Sept. 22 when the team heads to Statesboro, Ga. for a matchup with Georgia Southern. The Eagles sit 3-4-1 on the season following a home loss to Washington State on Thursday. The matchup with the Eagles will kick off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
