TXST Release:
SAN MARCOS, Texas – On a hot, Sunday afternoon at the Bobcat Soccer Complex, the Texas State soccer team (2-0-0) dominated throughout against Central Arkansas (0-2-0) to claim a 5-1 victory.
The five goals were the most in a home match since tallying five against Prairie View A&M on Aug. 30, 2013. For the weekend, the Bobcats netted eight goals, which is the second most in program history during the opening weekend behind 16 scored in 2004.
Bailey Peschel nearly put TXST in front just over four minutes into the contest. Chloe Jones sent in a cross that saw the ball deflect off the goalkeeper after pressure from Mya Ulloa. The ball skipped over to Peschel but took a slight extra hop right before connecting with attempt that forces the ball to go higher and off the crossbar.
The breakthrough came midway through the 20th minute when Lucy Hart sent in a cross from the far side. The junior defender juked out a Bear defender to send in a cross. Olivia Wright was able to get her foot in front of a defender to flick the ball high over the goalkeeper and into he left side of the net for her first goal of the season.
Alexis Neal added to the scoring in the first half with nearly three minutes left on the clock as she had the ball bounce to her near midfielder. She dribbled down the right side, beating two defenders, and unleashed a shot from 20 yards out. The ball was over the outstretched hands of the goalie and fell into the bottom left corner for the sophomore’s first career goal and increase the advantage to 2-0.
Early in the 52nd minute, Victoria Meza had a shot from inside the 18-yard box that was blocked but bounced right to Chloe Jones. The sophomore midfielder sent a pass towards Olivia Wright that hit off the senior’s heel and back towards Meza, who smashed the ball into the back of the net for her first career tally and extend the lead to three.
For the second time this season, Peschel found Zoe Junior on a cross that saw the junior forward head in the ball. This time it came at the back post at the end of the 57th minute to make it a 4-0 lead for Texas State.
The Bears would score in the 70th minute when a long ball into the box was misplayed by the Bobcat keeper and allowed Lea Duus Madsen to knock in her first tally of the year.
A cross into the box went over the head of both a UCA defender and Anna Mae Holeman, who was able to run down the ball. She cut inside and sent a short pass into the middle of the box where Lily Erb attempted a shot but was blocked by the keeper. The ball ricocheted and Halle Garcia was at the right place to knock it past the line for her first career goal and wrap up the scoring on the afternoon.
The Bobcats outshot the Bears 22-7 and held a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal. Peschel led all players with a career-high five shots. Attempting four shots apiece was Erb, Meza and Neal.
In goal, Caitlyn Draper got her first career start and made one save on the afternoon.
