The Herd Women’s Soccer Team suffered its fifth Sun Belt Conference loss 5-1 against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on Sunday, Oct. 8.

Freshman Katie Porter scored the first goal of her career and of the match in the second minute. Porter positioned herself in the box and launched the ball, which deflected off of an Appalachian State defender and into the net to give the Herd an early 1-0 lead.

Going into the second half, Marshall led by one despite being outshot 8-4 in the first half. The Mountaineers equalized the game in the 48th minute after a goal from Olivia Simon.

Simon went on to put up a hat-trick, scoring in the 65th and 67th minute following her first goal of the season that tied the contest.

The Herd had no answer for the Mountaineers’ offensive dominance, allowing two more goals in the 78th and 80th minute.

“It was certainly a game of two halves,” said head coach Michael Swan. “For the first 45 minutes, we were really good and could’ve, maybe should’ve, been ahead by more. Second half we just didn’t compete as a team. There’s no excuses for that type of performance in the second half, and we all know that as a group.”

Appalachian State outshot the Herd 20-7 in the contest and accumulated 14 shots on goal to Marshall’s two.

“We, as coaches, have to take ownership of that. For 45 minutes, we weren’t good enough on and off the field,”  Swan said.

The Herd returns home to Hoops Family Field on Saturday, Oct. 14, to face the Georgia State Panthers.