Girls Non-conference Alexander Central: 57 Newton-Conover: 33 East Burke: 62 St. Stephens: 53 Fred T.…

Summer Bowman scored the Mountaineers lone goal of the contest.
photo courtesy of Appalachian State Athletics
photo courtesy of Appalachian State Athletics
Appalachian State Women’s Soccer Drops First Sun Belt Conference Game of Season
Summer Bowman scored her third goal of the season, but South Alabama rallied with a big second half to pull away for a 3-1 victory on Thursday night.
Each team generated several first half opportunities with the shots on goal sitting even at three at halftime. The Mountaineers (5-4-3, 2-1-2) however were first onto the scoresheet, scoring in the closing minutes of the opening period. Kaytan Kroboth brought the ball downfield on a counterattack for App State, and patiently waited for support before laying the ball back to Bowman who tucked it into the low left corner of the goal. All three of Bowman’s goals this season have come since conference play began.
The Jaguars (10-0-3, 3-0-2), which entered the night as one of eight remaining unbeaten teams in the country, rallied in the second half, behind an outstanding final 45 minutes from Chiara Singarella. The Jaguar forward assisted on the game-tying goal by Gabby Hollar in the 68th minute on a counterattack, and then Singarella scored two more goals on her own to put the game out of reach.
The Jaguars second goal came on a shot from the top of the box with 12 minutes to play, before converting on a free kick goal with less than five minutes to go in regulation.
South Alabama outshot App State 18-5, but tallied just one more shot on target than did the Black and Gold. Izzi Wood, Olivia Simon, Sarah Widderich and Lela Stark added to Bowman’s shot in the match.
App State returns to Boone to host Marshall on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Thundering Herd are 6-5-1 on the season and 1-4 in conference play following a loss at home to Old Dominion on Thursday. The contest Sunday will be broadcast on ESPN+.