University Star

The Bobcats and Huskies went into overtime for the first time since 2008, when Texas State came out on top 2-1 in that match.

Senior forward Serena Hines scored her first goal of the season Friday night in the 29th minute, off of freshman forward Lynsey Curry’s first career assist as a Bobcat.

Texas State soccer tied with Houston Baptist University Aug. 31 with an end result of 1-1. The Bobcats were then defeated Sept. 2 at Rice 2-1.

HBU then scored with 35 minutes left in regulation, to send the game into overtime. Eventually, the two squads ended in a stalemate at the end of both overtimes and tied. The Bobcats outshot the Huskies 2-1 in overtime and ended the game out-shooting HBU 14-13.

“My biggest complaint on Friday night was I didn’t think we played as a team. We played individually.” Coach Kat Conner said. “I thought (Sunday) we improved it and came out as a team. From here on out we just need to do the same thing and keep the intensity and execute what we’re trying to do. If we do that in practice, we’ll do it in a game.”

Sunday night, the Bobcats headed out to the Rice Track and Soccer Stadium to take on the Rice Owls in the finale of their Houston weekend road-trip.

Junior goalie Natalie Gardini was put to the test early as the Owls came out attacking. In the 25th minute, Gardini came out of the box to break up a promising attack by the Owls’ offense. Rice did eventually find the back of the net as they scored their first goal in the 30th minute, off a cross to the back post past Gardini.

Texas State had a 1-0 deficit going into halftime Sunday night and had their offense coming out attacking on all cylinders to begin the second half of play.

Two minutes from halftime sophomore midfielder Tori Hale scored the team’s first goal. Jourdan Brown, sophomore forward, had headed the ball on target, but the Owl goalkeeper ricocheted it back out and Brown received the rebound and passed it back to Hale for the goal.

“I thought this game we really came out with the mentality of knowing what we were going to do and doing it together,” Conner said. “Players stepped to defend and others covered around them.”

The game at this point was tied 1-1, and Texas State’s attack looked promising on the Owls’ defense. However, Rice would seal the deal in the 49th minute when the Owls put the go-ahead goal on the board when a Rice forward got past Gardini and put a promising shot into the net, finalizing the game 2-1.

In the 57th minute, the Bobcats had a chance to even up the score, when junior forward Gabbi Cottee crossed a ball into the box and Curry had a run at it, but was tripped up before she could take the shot.

Texas State returns home to take on Central Michigan on Friday and will travel to Fort Worth Sunday to battle Texas Christian.

Twitter: @TState_Sports18