NEW ORLEANS — Following a sensational opening week in which she scored three goals, including a pair of thrilling game-winners, App State Soccer sophomore Ellie Garrison has been named the Sun Belt's Offensive Player of the Week.
Garrison has paced the Mountaineers to their first 2-0 start since 2016. She registered her second career brace in App State's season-opening win at Western Carolina, where she scored a penalty kick in the first half before netting a dramatic game-winner in the 89th minute to break a 2-2 deadlock.
On Sunday against Miami, after being dragged down in the box in the 79th minute, Garrison calmly converted a penalty kick to lift App State to a 1-0 victory. The win marked the Mountaineers' first Power Conference victory since defeating Maryland in 2016 and their first win against an ACC opponent.
Named a Sun Belt preseason all-conference selection and a national Midfielder to Watch by United Soccer Coaches, Garrison has wasted no time making an impact this season. Her two game-winning goals lead the Sun Belt, and she is one of just seven players nationally to have scored a pair of game-winners. She is also tied for the league lead in goals and tied for second in points.
The Trinity, N.C., native has found success at every level in her soccer career. As a senior at Wheatmore High School, Garrison won the North Carolina Golden Boot award in 2023 after setting the state record with 96 goals in a season (she scored 77 the previous year). In her first season in Boone in 2024, Garrison tallied four goals and five assists. Her 13 points were the most by an App State freshman in the Sun Belt era.
Garrison and the Mountaineers look to push their record to 3-0 when they host Davidson on Thursday at The Valley. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.
