TXST Women’s Soccer: Stephen F. Austin & Northwestern State

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State women’s soccer team returns to the Bobcat Soccer Complex to this weekend to begin a four-game homestand. Friday the Bobcats host Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. and then welcome Northwestern State to town on Sunday with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.

Going into the weekend, Texas State is 2-3-1 on the season. The Lady Jacks are 1-2-0 and the Lady Demons are 3-2-0.

Last Time Out

For the second straight weekend, the Bobcats were held scoreless to tie for the second longest streak in program history. The last time a Texas State tallied a goal was at the 77:25 mark against Prairie View A&M off the foot of senior Lauren Prater.

Freshman Kathryn Budde made four saves and allowed just one goal in 117:08 between the posts during Labor Day weekend at New Mexico State and UTEP. Fellow classmate Heather Martin also tallied four saves to only one goal but in 73:53 of playing time.

Pacing the team with six shots in the two contests was Brooke Ramsey. Five of her attempts came in Las Cruces, New Mexico, setting a new career-high. Junior midfielder Rachel Grout was second with four shots.

Scouting Stephen F. Austin

Stephen F. Austin is coming off a 3-2 victory over UTSA in the team’s home opener on Sept. 4. The Lady Jacks opened the year with a trip to the west coast for matches against Oregon (L, 3-0) and Oregon State (L, 2-1).

Hailey Hunt paces SFA with two goals. Crystal Calvit and Madison Hall have both found the back of the net once. Leading the team with two assists, six shots and four shots on goal is Hanna Barker.

In between the posts, Lillie Ehlert and Allyson Smith have both appeared in every game this season. Ehlert has started two games and heads into Friday’s game with a 1.87 GAA and a .750 save percentage having made nine saves. Smith has also stopped nine shots for a .692 save percentage and sports a 2.87 GAA.

The Lady Jacks are led by Wally Crittenden. He is in his fourth season in charge of the program and has produced a 42-16-6 record. The team has won three straight Southland Conference regular season titles.

Leading the all-time series 12-9-2 is Texas State. The Bobcats won 4-0 last season in Nacogdoches, Texas that saw Kassi Hormuth, Kira Zapalac and Prater tally goals. When playing at home against SFA, Texas State is 8-2.

The last eight games in the series has seen the victorious team pitch a shutout. The last time both teams scored in a game was a 2-1 overtime win for the Lady Jacks at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.

Scouting Northwestern State

Northwestern State is coming off two “home” victories last weekend. The Lady Demons defeated Jackson State (3-0) and Texas Wesleyan (6-0) in Alexandria and Shreveport, Louisiana, respectively, because of wet field conditions on their home field. Every game this season has seen the Lady Demons or their opponent record a shutout. Prior to playing Texas State on Sunday, NSU plays at UTSA Friday night.

Camila Ardila and April Trowbridge have scored a team-high three goals. The only other player to find the back of the net more than once is Brittany Casermas, who has netted two scores. Leading the team in assists is Esdeina Gonzalez with three.

Between the posts, Alex Latham has started all five games. In 405 minutes of action, she has recorded a 1.56 GAA and 34 saves for an .829 save percentage.

George Van Linder is in his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Demons program. In his time in Natchitoches, Louisiana, he is 32-46-7 to bring his 18-year career record to 170-160-30.

Texas State has a 14-8-3 lead in the all-time series with NSU. The Bobcats are undefeated in the last nine meetings with the Lady Demons and have won six straight. Last season’s scheduled game was halted in the 34th minute of play because of lightning and a power outage. The last completed game took place on Aug. 31, 2014 in San Marcos and saw the Bobcats win 3-0.

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

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.