TXST Press Release: SAN MARCOS, Texas – With a 2-1 victory over Houston Baptist (0-2-1) Sunday night at the Bobcat Soccer Complex, the Texas State soccer team improved to 4-0-0 on the season to match the best start in program history. The only other Bobcat squad to win its first four matches was in 2019.
“We feel good. Couldn’t ask for a better start to be 4-0,” said head coach Steve Holeman. “We talked to the team about keeping everything in perspective. We got to learn from the game even when we win.”
TXST attempted 22 shots with 10 of them being on frame while the Huskies finished with 12 shots and placed four on frame. Both Zoe Junior and Madi Goss set career-highs with five and four shots, respectively. The duo also tallied a goal apiece while Haley Shaw was credited with an assist on the match-winning score.
Katelyn Chrisman made her third start of the year between the posts and finished with three saves.
Off a corner kick just over 90 seconds into the match, Caroline Kirschner had a short shot attempt blocked by a defender at the last moment.
Just over two minutes later Chloe Jones was taken down just inside the 18-yard box for a Bobcat penalty kick attempt. Goss stepped up and buried it home to give Texas State a 1-0 advantage. It was her second goal of the campaign with her first also coming from the penalty spot.
In the 21st minute, Junior nearly doubled the Bobcats’ lead. She was on the receiving end of a pass into the box from Westyn Henderson but saw her shot attempt clank off the right post.
Junior’s tough luck continued late in the 50th minute. The sophomore got a pass from Goss inside the box and tied to chip it over the goalkeeper. However, the ball hit of the crossbar and bounced out of play.
The third time was the charm for Junior. A pass from Shaw got Junior behind the HBU backline and she was able to avoid the goalie to give herself an open look at the empty goal. Junior knocked the ball into the back of the net for her second tally of the season.
HBU was able to get on the scoreboard in the 83rd minute when Katie Marker took a long-distance attempt that found the upper left corner.
TXST was able to hold off the Huskies late comeback attempt to claim the win.
Next up for the Bobcats is a meeting with Kansas City on Thursday at home. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
