RUSTON, La. – Junior forward Ellie Garrison scored a pair of first half goals, and the defense pitched its sixth shutout of the season, leading App State Soccer to a 2-0 victory over Louisiana Tech on Thursday at Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
 
App State (7-1-2, 2-0-0) extended its program-best unbeaten streak to nine consecutive games, and registered its fifth road victory of the season, matching the program record. The Mountaineers join James Madison as the only 2-0 teams in the league through two conference games.
 
The Mountaineers controlled the contest from start to finish, outshooting the Bulldogs (5-3-2, 0-1-1) 25-11 overall and 7-0 in shots on target. The Mountaineers also held a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
App State broke onto the scoreboard in the 33^rd minute when goalkeeper Hanna Skogsfors booted a ball from just outside her 18-yard box deep down field where Garrison was able to settle it on one bounce and drive it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. It marked the second assist for Skogsfors in the last four games.
 
Six minutes later, the Mountaineers doubled their advantage. Off a corner kick, the ball bounced around in the box and ended up on the foot of Ella Hoover who put a ball towards goal. The shot deflected off two Louisiana Tech defenders and bounced off the goal line before being saved. Aimee Haywood challenged the play and upon VAR review, the referees ruled that the final touch by the Bulldogs was a hand ball, resulting in a penalty kick. Garrison stepped up and buried the shot from the dot for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
 
Garrison now has 14 career goals in three seasons. She finished the night with a career-high nine shots and put five on target. Olivia Simon added six shots and Libby Bermingham had three, including one that hit the crossbar in the early stages of the opening half.
 
Lucy Harrington and Maddie Williams played all 90 minutes, while senior forward Kaytan Kroboth returned from injury to make her season debut for the Mountaineers.
 
The Mountaineers will be back at home on Sunday to host Old Dominion at 1 p.m. It's heroes day at The Valley and the team will be giving away App State camo koozies. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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