STATESBORO - Appalachian State tallied a pair of goals in the first 12 minutes to pick up a 2-1 Sun Belt women's soccer victory over host Georgia Southern on Sunday afternoon at Bo Pitts Field.

The Mountaineers improved to 4-3-2 overall in earning the win in both teams' conference opener. Georgia Southern falls to 3-6-1 with the loss in the one-goal contest. The Eagles are 0-6 this season in matches decided by one goal.

Ellie Garrison gave the Mountaineers a quick lead in the fourth minute as she pounced on an errant clearance at the top of the box and fired a shot inside the left post for the 1-0 advantage.

In the 12th minute, a pass by App State's Mumu Guisasola found a streaking Stephanie Barbosa down the right side. Barbosa then fed a pass to the top of the box, where Izzy Wood was able to turn and finish for the 2-0 advantage.

The Eagles would pull one back before halftime as a cross from the right side from Maya Zovko found Smith Cathey right in front of the net. Cathey's backheel deflected off of Mountaineer keeper Sarah Wommack and trickled in for her fourth goal of the season.

App State held a 9-4 edge in shots at the break.

In the second half, each team had a shot in the first 10 minutes blocked, but the Mountaineers would benefit  from Georgia Southern's Kendall Wilson being sent off in the 55th minute for receiving a second yellow card in the match. 

After that moment, the Eagles were able to only tally one shot - a Faith Phillips blast that went right of goal - for the remainder of the second half.

"We got off to a slow start and dug ourselves an 0-2 hole," Georgia Southern head women's soccer coach Chris Adams said. "I thought it was an important goal to get before halftime to get us back into the match, but after getting a red card, it was an uphill battle to come back playing with only 10. We will regroup and get back to work with a quick turnaround this week heading to Arkansas State."

App State finished the day with a 17-6 edge in shots. Katie Oakley made four saves in net for Georgia Southern, and the Mountaineers had a 2-1 edge in corner kicks. App State was whistled for 13 fouls and eight offsides while Georgia Southern was called for eight fouls and one offsides.

Georgia Southern returns to action on Thursday, September 26, traveling to Arkansas State for a 4 p.m. ET match against the Red Wolves.