Press Release:
Bobcats Claim 3-0 Win Over Cardinals
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State soccer team recorded its second straight shutout to begin the season in front of a crowd of 627 fans on the way to a 3-0 win over Incarnate Word at the Bobcat Soccer Complex on Sunday.
With the victory, the Bobcats improved to 2-0-0 for the first time since the 2019 season while the Cardinals start their campaign at 0-1-0.
“We were definitely more efficient tonight. To get three goals against a good team was very good,” said head coach Steve Holeman. “I liked our effort and a little bit more composure in the final third. So, I thought it went really well tonight.”
TXST outshot UIW 16-6 with an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal. Olivia Wright paced all players with four shot attempts while Chloe Jones placed both of her shots on frame.
Beth Agee made two saves on the night to pick up her first win between the posts. It was also her fifth career shutout.
An attempt by Juana Plata from just outside the box nearly found the upper left corner midway through the 20th minute. However, the Cardinals goalkeeper made a leap stop to keep the match scoreless.
The Bobcats would get the breakthrough goal near the end of the 29th minute. Wright drove down the left side and sent a pass to the center of the box that found Madi Goss. A quick battle with a defender saw Goss find Wimberley Wright, who sent a rocket of a shot into the left side of the net for her first career goal.
It would only take Texas State 72 seconds to find the back of the net again. Pressure off a goal kick saw the goalie kick the ball straight to Bailey Peschel. The senior sent a floating shot to the upper left corner of the goal to tally her first goal of the season.
Haley Shaw had an opportunity to increase the advantage during the 55th minute. Her shot to the top right saw the keeper record a leaping stop.
A foul in the box midway through the 56 minute was drawn by Goss in the box. She stepped up and slotted the penalty kick into the left side of the frame to increase the advantage to 3-0.
Next up for the Bobcats is their first road match of the season on Thursday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
St. Mary’s / Home Opener Recap
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Steve Holeman era of the Texas State soccer program began with a 1-0 victory Thursday night at the Bobcat Soccer Complex over St. Mary’s. Tallying the lone goal of the contest was Zoe Junior with just over four minutes left on the clock.
It is the third time in the last four years that the Bobcats have won their season opening match.
“I think we made it a little more exciting than we wanted it to be. It would been great and a lot easier if we scored earlier on,” said Holeman. “Credit to St. Mary’s. They defended well and their keeper was good. We had a difficult time but as the end of the night we got the win.”
TXST outshoot the Rattlers 28-1 and held a 9-0 advantage in attempts on goal. Bailey Peschel led the Bobcats with four shots and two being on frame. Taking three shot attempts apiece was Addison Peters, Haley Shaw, Avery Thies, Wimberly Wright and Junior.
Katelyn Chrisman picked up the win in goal, the second of her career.
Early in the 13th minute, the Bobcats had an opportunity to get on the board when Junior was fouled in the box to draw a penalty kick. However, the attempt sailed over the bar.
Alexis Neal nearly broke up the scoreless contest as a shot in the 38th minute got by the STMU goalkeeper and smacked off the right post.
During the midway part of the 51st minute, Kamaria Williams sent a shot toward goal that saw the keeper make a diving stop to again keep Texas State off the scoreboard.
A foul was committed by the Rattlers early in the 86th minute that gave a free kick to the Bobcats inside their attacking half. After receiving a short pass from Thies, Peters sent a long ball into the box with the ball bouncing past the charging keeper and Olivia Wright. Junior was following and able to beat her defender to the ball to knock it into the back of the net for her first career match-winning goal.
