App State Brew 8/12: Let The Games Begin!

Good morning, App State Fam. For the first time in nearly two months, Mountaineers will be in action as the women’s soccer team will be kicking off the 2026-27 calendar tomorrow night!

What all do we have stirring in today’s Brew? Check it out below.

⚽️ Let The Games Begin
📈 Movin’ On Up
⏱️ Countdown To Kickoff: 24 Days Away
🟡 And much more

🔼 Let The Games Begin. For the first time in 288 days (not that we’ve been counting), the App State Soccer squad will step on the pitch tomorrow night for the 2026 season opener.

Entering the fifth season in the Aimee Haywood era, the Mountaineers welcome in-state foe UNCW to town for a 6 pm showdown at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.

🎥 Watch Live

🔼 Movin’ On Up. One of our own is on the move as App State alum Liam Best earned a promotion to High-A Peoria in the St. Louis Cardinals organization this week.

Over the past two months, Best has been lights out for the Class-A Palm Beach Cardinals. In the past 17.1 innings of work (11 appearances), Best has allowed just one earned run, 13 hits, while striking out 21 and walking just six.

The award-winning Graystone Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel is your perfect home base while visiting Appalachian State University. We’re grateful for our App State alumni and families! To show you our appreciation, enjoy a 15% discount off your stay when you book directly through Choice Hotels. With our delicious complimentary hot breakfast and convenient location, we’re the ideal choice to visit App State and create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime!

🔼 Teein’ It Up. With action starting to get underway in Boone, the App State men’s golf squad unveiled its full 2026-27 slate this week as well.

The Mountaineers will be teeing it up at 11 events across the fall and spring seasons as head coach John Michael Cole begins his second year with the Mountaineers.

📅 Check Out The Full 2026 Men’s Golf Schedule

🔼 THIS SATURDAY! In conjunction with this Saturday’s FanFest, App State Athletics will host a Surplus Sale on Saturday inside Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The sale will run from 4-5:30 p.m., or while supplies last, and will be located on the West Concourse of Kidd Brewer Stadium. Items on sale will include team-issued uniforms and equipment across all varsity App State sports, Nike apparel, fan gear, special memorabilia and more.

⚫️ Learn More About The Surplus Sale

Throughout the summer, we will be counting down the days
to the return of App State Football this fall. The Mountaineers will
host Maine on September 5 at 3:30 p.m.

2️⃣4️⃣ Days Away. The clock is ticking down. We are just 24 days away from kickoff!

This year’s App State Football roster has plenty of new faces looking to make an immediate impact for the Mountaineers.

One of those new faces looking to leave his mark is senior defensive back Josh Williams, who will be wearing #2️⃣4️⃣ this year for App State.

Williams arrived this spring after a stellar first three seasons at Dayton, where he tied for the lead among all FCS players with six interceptions in 2025.

The Ohio native has played in 27 games over the past two seasons, racking up 41 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.