Third-seeded App State opens the Sun Belt tournament against No. 6 Louisiana on Monday at noon ET in Foley, Alabama, with a semifinal berth at stake. Both teams have 11 wins, but App State brings a school-record-tying regular season and a defense that has allowed just 13 goals in 18 games. The Mountaineers are seeking their first postseason win since 2021.

By the Numbers
  • App State: 11-3-4 overall, 6-2-2 in Sun Belt play; No. 3 seed.
  • Louisiana: 11-5-3 overall, 5-3-2 in Sun Belt play; No. 6 seed.
  • Ellie Garrison set App State single-season records with 12 goals and 26 points.
  • App State has recorded 10 shutouts and allowed 13 goals in 18 regular-season games.
  • The Mountaineers average 8.33 corner kicks per game, ranking No. 1 nationally.
  • App State leads the all-time series 8-3; Louisiana won the teams’ 2025 meeting, 1-0.
Yes, But

App State has the stronger defensive numbers and a winning record in the series, but Louisiana has a potent attack: the Ragin’ Cajuns have scored 45 goals, and leading scorer Miku Kurihara was named Sun Belt midfielder of the year. Louisiana also won the teams’ most recent meeting.

What’s Next

Monday’s winner advances to Wednesday’s semifinals to face either No. 2 Old Dominion or No. 7 Marshall. A win would send App State to the semifinals for the first time since 2016.

Bottom Line

App State’s record-setting defense will be tested by one of the Sun Belt’s most productive offenses. To keep its postseason hopes alive, the Mountaineers will need to turn their regular-season edge into a result against a Louisiana team that already beat them last year.