Texas State Soccer To Host Opening Games For Regular Season

All home matches for Texas State are free admission.

SAN MARCOS, Texas – For the first time since 2011, the Texas State soccer team will open the regular season at home at the Bobcat Soccer Complex beginning Friday at 7 p.m. against Northern Arizona.

The Bobcats follow with a 1 p.m. match on Sunday against Louisiana Tech.

TXST is coming off a 2-0 exhibition victory over I-35 rival UTSA last Friday. Jessica Pikoff scored both goals in the contest. Setting her up on the two scores were Haley Groff, Rachel Grout and Sydney Kammer.

In net, Heather Martin made four saves in the first half. Kathryn Budde faced three Roadrunner shots in the second half but none of the attempts were on frame.

Scouting Northern Arizona

Northern Arizona is coming off a 10-7-5 season in which the team reached the Big Sky Tournament Finals before falling on penalty kicks.

The Lumberjacks return 15 players and were picked to finish second in the Big Sky Conference. Adrian Nixt paced the team last season with nine goals, 21 points, 57 shots and 28 shots on goals to earn first team all-conference recognition.

Adding firepower up top is Anna Goebel, who netted four goals in 2016 with half of them being match-winners.

Also back is Heather Donais, who led the team and finished tied for fourth in the conference with six assists. In net, Megan Dickmann started all 22 games and finished with 101 saves, five shutouts and was named to the Big Sky All-Tournament Team.

Series vs. Lumberjacks

Both meetings with NAU has seen the Lumberjacks come out victorious. Last time the teams met was on Sept. 17, 2006 in Flagstaff, Arizona that ended 4-2. NAU won the first meeting 2-0 on Aug. 28, 2000 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Scouting Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech finished 14-6-1 last season and were fifth in Conference USA with a 6-4-0 record. In this year’s preseason poll, the Lady Techsters were picked to finish seventh while Nomvula Kgoale was selected as the C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Sunday’s match will be the second of three straight that LA Tech plays on the road to open the 2017 campaign.

Mylene Roy-Ouellet paces all returners from last season with seven goals, 15 points, 28 shots and 15 shots on goal. She was also the only player on the team to play in all 21 matches. Jenna Dages netted five goals and is one of five returners to be credited with two assists along with Lisanne Kleygrewe, Blakeney Latson, Jaelyn Peeples and Au’Dresha Spates.

Carlotta Cartelli is the most experience goalkeeper in a Lady Techster uniform having played in six matches in 2016 totaling 401:49 minutes. She finished with a 0.67 GAA and made five saves with a 62.5 save percentage. Faith Washington made two appearances to end the year with a 0.81 GAA and one save while Jezabell Rubalcava played in a match for 51:07 while surrendering two goals and making a stop. Joining the trio this season is Courtney Tompkins, a transfer from Mississippi State.

Series vs. Lady Techsters

The all-time series between TXST and LA Tech is tied 2-2. The last meeting saw the Lady Techsters win 2-0 in San Marcos on Oct. 12, 2012. The Bobcats last victory was Sept. 16, 2011 at home, a 1-0 overtime contest. Three of the four previous matches have been played at the Bobcat Soccer Complex. The lone exception being on Sept. 10, 2010 when LA Tech won 2-1 in Ruston, Louisiana.

Live stats, video and audio will be available for both matches with links on the Bobcat soccer team’s schedule page.

All home matches for Texas State are free admission. Parking for fans will be available at the Speck Street Parking Garage along with limited spaces southwest of the Soccer Complex except on Aug. 20 against Louisiana Tech. Because of new student move-in day taking place around the complex Aug. 19-20, fans are recommended to park along Sessoms Drive Lots R18 and R40.

For more information on the Texas State soccer team, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, like on Facebook at Texas State Soccer and follow on Instagram and Twitter at @TxStateSoccer.

NAU Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=181488

NAU Video: http://txstatebobcats.com/watch/?Live=1330&type=Live

LA Tech Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=181489

LA Tech Video: http://txstatebobcats.com/watch/?Live=1331&type=Live

Game Notes: http://txstatebobcats.com/sports/2017/8/16/soccer-game-notes.aspx?path=wsoc