NEW ORLEANS – App State sophomore midfielder
Ellie Garrison and graduate forward
Izzi Wood have been named to the Sun Belt Conference preseason all-conference soccer team the league announced on Wednesday.
It marks the first time in program history that two players have been selected to the preseason All-Sun Belt team. Additionally, Wood becomes the first player in program history to earn the distinction twice in her career.
A second team All-Sun Belt selection as a true freshman in 2024, Garrison enters her sophomore season poised for another breakout campaign. The Trinity, N.C. native played and started all 19 games in her first season in Boone, registering four goals and five assists. Her combined 13 points were the most by an App State freshman in the Sun Belt era. Garrison scored her first two goals of the season against Longwood on Aug. 29 and was subsequently named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 3. She finished the season with 50 shots, including 22 shots on target. Garrison was named an All-Southeast Region selection following the season and was ranked as the 49th-best freshman in the country by Top Drawer Soccer.
Coming off back-to-back All-Sun Belt seasons, Wood enters her final season of eligibility having already cemented herself as one of the top goal-scorers in App State history. The Hickory, N.C. native is coming off a career-high 11 goals in 2024, which matched the single-season program record. Wood enters the 2025 campaign with 26 career tallies, five away from setting the App State career goals record, currently held by Casey Cleary (2005-08). Last season Wood led the Sun Belt in shots (80) and shots on goal (41) while ranking third in the conference in goals scored (11) and in points (23). She also finished the season tied for third in the league in game-winning goals (3). Wood has been named an All-Southeast Region selection each of the past two seasons.
The Mountaineers open the 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 14 at Western Carolina before hosting Miami in the team's home opener on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. The matchup with the Hurricanes will mark the first time since 2021 that App State has hosted an autonomy conference opponent.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., F, Manchester, England)
Preseason Midfielder of the Year:
Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., M, San Salvador, El Salvador)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., D, Holly Springs, N.C.)
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year:
Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., GK, Greensburg, Pa.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
F – Ginny Lackey, James Madison (So., Manchester, England)
F – Aaliyah Faddoul, Georgia State (Jr., Ontario, Canada)
F – Izzi Wood, App State (Gr., Hickory, N.C.)
M – Ellie Garrison, App State (So., Trinity, N.C.)
M – Victoria Meza, Texas State (Jr., San Salvador, El Salvador)
M – Jamie Swartz, James Madison (Sr., Palmyra, Pa.)
D – Eefje Botjer, Coastal Carolina (So., Schiffdorf, Germany)
D – Kennley Bradley, Texas State (Gr., Ogden, Utah)
D – Ashlynn Kulha, Old Dominion (Jr., Holly Springs, N.C.)
D – Jordan Yang, James Madison (Sr., Clifton, Va.)
GK – Sofia DeCerb, James Madison (R-So., Greensburg, Pa.)
2025 Sun Belt Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (9) – 189
2. Texas State (3) – 178
3. Old Dominion (1) – 169
4. South Alabama – 145
5. Coastal Carolina – 117
6. Georgia State – 115
7. ULM – 114
8. App State – 102
9. Georgia Southern – 84
10. Marshall (1) – 68
11. Louisiana – 64
12. Southern Miss – 52
13. Arkansas State – 40
14. Troy – 33
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
