BOONE, N.C. – App State Soccer played tenacious defense for a full 90 minutes, and Ellie Garrison netted the lone goal of the match as App State defeated Georgia State 1-0 in its Sun Belt Conference opener on Friday at The Valley.
 
The Mountaineers (6-1-2, 1-0-0) have not lost in eight straight matches, setting the record for the longest unbeaten streak in program history.
 
"To see the back line come into their own and be a foundation we can build on has been huge," head coach Aimee Haywood said. "We're on an unbeaten streak because of how hard we work and the-buy in to the culture and what it takes to win in this conference. Every single player contributed to what we did out here tonight."
 
Georgia State (5-3-1, 0-1-0) entered the match averaging over 15 shots per game on the season, but the App State defense held the Panthers to just one shot on the night. Freshman Anaya Jones drew the assignment of marking Sun Belt player of the week Sunniyah Tucker, holding the Panther midfielder without a shot in the match.
 
App State broke onto the scoreboard in the 49^th minute of play, when Garrison headed home a corner kick on a beautiful service from Hayden Petrick. The goal was Garrison's fourth on the season and 13^th of her career, while Petrick notched her fourth assist of the campaign.
 
Olivia Simon nearly struck from long range in the opening half of play, hitting the underside of the crossbar in the 39^thminute of play. Simon finished the night with three shots, while Garrison led the way with five. 
 
Jones, Garrison, Lucy Harrington and Maddie Williams played all 90 minutes for the Mountaineers in the field, while Hanna Skogsfors secured the clean sheet, saving her only shot faced. The shutout was the Mountaineers' fifth of the year and 27^th in Haywood's five seasons.
 
App State will return to action on Thursday when the team travels to Ruston, La. to face Louisiana Tech for the first time. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
 
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