BOONE, N.C. – App State Soccer will open its 2026 season on Thursday, facing off with the UNCW Seahawks at The Valley. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the first 50 fans will receive an App State branded water bottle. The Taqueria La Monarca food truck will also be on hand.
App State returns 19 players from the 2025 season and has added six freshmen and three transfers to its roster. Sophomore Maddie Williams returns after playing and starting every game on the back line last season. Williams led the defense to four clean sheets and played all 90 minutes 14 times. Junior forward Ellie Garrison is the team's top returning goal scorer. Garrison netted five goals, while her four game-winners were tied for the most in the Sun Belt. Olivia Simon is a key returner in the midfield. She has played 54 matches (starting 53) through three seasons at App State.
The Mountaineers went 7-7-3 overall last season, marking the third straight season with at least seven wins, the first time doing so since 2014-16. The Mountaineers most notably knocked off the Miami Hurricanes 1-0 in Boone on Aug. 17 for the program's first ACC win. The Mountaineers were picked eighth in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll.
UNCW is the reigning CAA regular season champion, finishing 11-3-4 overall last season and 7-0-2 in conference play, their best overall winning percentage in program history. The Seahawks return four all-conference players from a season ago, led by Hailey Longwell who was named a D1 Forward to Watch heading into the season. She was named the CAA Attacking Player of the Year in 2025.
The Seahawks and Mountaineers are meeting for the 10th time in program history. Most recently, UNCW won 2-1 in overtime in 2017 in Wilmington. App State took the last meeting in Boone 3-2 in 2015.
Following Thursday's contest, the Mountaineers will hit the road for the first time in 2026, as the team heads to Campbell on Sunday for a 5 p.m. kickoff. The Camels went 4-7-5 overall and 2-4-3 in the CAA last year.
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