Texas State Women’s Soccer Begins Sun Belt Conference Play at Home

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Sun Belt Conference games begin this weekend for the Texas State women’s soccer with contests at home on Friday and Sunday against Little Rock and Georgia State, respectively. Friday’s kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and Sunday’s contest will begin at 12 p.m.

This weekend will also see all-conference teams specially designed warm-up jerseys in support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and of head coach Kat Conner, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year and is currently in remission.

At Friday’s game, teal koozies and cups will be given away at the gate. There will also be a silent auction with proceeds donated to fight ovarian cancer. A list of packages up for auction can be found at the following link at the top of the article.

Entering the weekend, the Bobcats have a 3-4-1 record. The Trojans are 5-3-0 and the Panthers have a 3-2-2 mark.

Last Time Out

Texas State concluded its non-conference portion of the schedule with a 3-2 loss to Stephen F. Austin in double overtime and but snapped the team’s five-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Northwestern State on Sunday. The opening goal by Rachel Grout against the Lady Jacks ended the team’s scoreless streak that spanned over 430 minutes.

Heather Martin made six saves over the two games with five of the stops coming against SFA. Kathryn Budde made two saves in the second half against the Lady Demons to help preserve the shutout.

Jordan Kondikoff, Clarissa Leon and Grout tallied a goal apiece for the Bobcats. The goals by Grout and Leon gave them a team-high two on the season. Kondikoff’s was her first collegiate and game-winning score of her career.

Seniors Maddie Nichols and Lauren Prater both moved into the Texas State career record book over the weekend. Nichols is now 10th in minutes played (since 2007) with 5,008 minutes. Prater is now tied for 10th with 110 career shots, matching Taylor Person’s (2009-12) mark.

Scouting Little Rock

Little Rock closed out its non-conference schedule with a 2-0 victory against Mississippi Valley State and a 2-1 win over Kansas State, both taking place on the Trojans’ home turf. Over the past six games, Little Rock is 5-1 with the lone loss being a 1-0 decision in overtime at then 14th-ranked Texas A&M.

Jaclyn Purvine paces the Trojans with three goals and her two assists are tied for the team lead with Quin Wilkes. Also netting two scores this year has been Fali Garuba, Harrison Hayworth and Wilkes.

Entering the game with a team-best 25 shots and 11 shots on goal is Shannon Shields. However, she has yet to find the back of the net but has been credited with an assist.

Sara Small, an All-Sun Belt Conference second team selection last season, has started six games in goal. She sports a 0.83 GAA and has made 21 saves for an .808 save percentage. Both Sara Cavanagh and Shara Robbins have appeared in two games, started one and made two saves each.

The three previous meetings have all ended the favor of Texas State. Last year saw the team’s meet at the Bobcat Soccer Complex to open conference play and the Bobcats winning 2-1 in double overtime on an own goal.

Scouting Georgia State

Georgia State ended its non-conference portion of the schedule with a 2-0 win on the road over Southeastern Louisiana. The Panthers other two victories this year have come at home against Alabama A&M (1-0) and Alabama State (3-0). Prior to facing the Bobcats, GSU plays at UL Lafayette Friday night.

Of the team’s seven goals this year, they have all been scored by a different Panther. Kylie Ruffule and Alexis Thomas have knotted a goal and been credited with an assist to tie for the team lead with three points. Sporting a team-best three assists is Caitlin Ray.

Brie Haynes has played every minute this season between the posts. She has stopped 32 shots for a .800 save percentage while allowing eight goals for a 1.07 GAA.

The Bobcats hold a 3-2 edge in the all-time series that includes a 2-0 mark in games played in San Marcos. The past two years has seen the teams meet twice, once in the regular season and once in the conference tournament. Last year, Texas State won 4-1 at home during the regular season behind Prater’s second hat trick of the year, but GSU knocked the Bobcats out of the SBC Tournament in the first round by the score of 2-1.

Live stats and video stream will be available for both games. Sunday’s match will also be broadcast on KTSW 89.9 FM in San Marcos and can also be streamed online.

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 Twitter at @TxStateSoccer.

TXST Game Notes: http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/txstate.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/9/15/Week_05.pdf

Little Rock Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=139287

Little Rock Video Stream: http://txstatebobcats.com/watch/?Live=1092

LR Game Notes: http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/ualr.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/9/15/0910_TexasStateLouisiana.pdf?id=1780

GSU Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=139288

GSU Video Stream: http://txstatebobcats.com/watch/?Live=1093