Garrison Earns Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week Honors

NEW ORLEANS — Following a sensational opening week through which she scored three targets, together with a pair of thrilling game-winners, App State Soccer sophomore Ellie Garrison has been named the Sun Belt’s Offensive Player of the Week.

Garrison has paced the Mountaineers to their first 2-0 begin since 2016. She registered her second profession brace in App State’s season-opening win at Western Carolina, the place she scored a penalty kick within the first half earlier than netting a dramatic game-winner within the 89th minute to interrupt a 2-2 impasse.

On Sunday in opposition to Miami, after being dragged down within the field within the 79th minute, Garrison calmly transformed a penalty kick to carry App State to a 1-0 victory. The win marked the Mountaineers’ first Power Conference victory since defeating Maryland in 2016 and their first win in opposition to an ACC opponent.

Named a Sun Belt preseason all-conference choice and a nationwide Midfielder to Watch by United Soccer Coaches, Garrison has wasted no time making an affect this season. Her two game-winning targets lead the Sun Belt, and she or he is certainly one of simply seven gamers nationally to have scored a pair of game-winners. She can also be tied for the league lead in targets and tied for second in factors.

The Trinity, N.C., native has discovered success at each degree in her soccer profession. As a senior at Wheatmore High School, Garrison received the North Carolina Golden Boot award in 2023 after setting the state document with 96 targets in a season (she scored 77 the earlier yr). In her first season in Boone in 2024, Garrison tallied 4 targets and 5 assists. Her 13 factors have been probably the most by an App State freshman within the Sun Belt period.

Garrison and the Mountaineers look to push their document to 3-0 after they host Davidson on Thursday at The Valley. Kickoff is ready for six p.m., and the match can be streamed on ESPN+.