BOONE, N.C. – Strong defense and a penalty kick score from graduate forward
Izzi Wood helped lead App State Soccer to a 1-0 victory over the South Alabama Jaguars at The Valley on Friday. It was the Mountaineers' (5-5-1, 1-2-0 SBC) first clean sheet on defense since posting back-to-back shutouts against Davidson and Miami in August.
Wood's game-winning goal was the 29th of her career, placing her one goal back of the program record of 30 set by Casey Cleary.
Anna Claire Jacobi was lights out between the posts on Friday, saving five shots and posting a clean sheet. South Alabama (7-3-0, 2-1-0 SBC) came into the game having outscored its opponents 11-1 in Sun Belt play and 24-8 overall this season. App State's shutout marked just the second time this season that South Alabama didn't record a goal, with the last instance occurring in its season opener at LSU.
The Jaguars generated the first chances in the game, seeing Aliya Gomez attempt two shots in the 12th and 20th minutes. Both were saved by Jacobi, with the second one being a kick save on a breakaway chance.
Shortly after Jacobi's save, Wood sent one on goal that threatened the net, but her shot was saved by the Jaguars. The Mountaineers took two shots in the first half as
Kyli Switalski took the game's first shot in the 11th minute.
As the contest went into halftime scoreless, App State saw its offense spark to begin the final frame. In the 54th minute, Wood tallied back-to-back shots, one of which hit the right post off a rebound chance, but South Alabama was able to clear it, and play moved on.
Another chance generated by the Mountaineers' strong second-half push led to a shot by
Hayden Petrick that went high. Six minutes later, Wood found herself with the ball deep in South Alabama territory and turned to make a shot, but was fouled before she could take it. Attempting App State's fourth penalty kick of the year, Wood shot toward the left post, and the keeper dove right, leading to a score. The Mountaineers are now 4-4 on penalty kicks this season.
The Mountaineer defense continued its stellar showing, forcing another tough South Alabama shot that led to Jacobi's fifth save of the game in the 89th minute. Wood's penalty kick score turned into the decider as the Mountaineers claimed a huge win, their first over South Alabama since 2016 and second all-time.
App State will next take the field in Conway, S.C., for a Thursday night tilt with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
