University Star

The Texas State soccer team is taking its 1-1 record in conference play on the road this weekend. This will mark the first WAC road trip for the girls in the program’s history. Currently, the Bobcats sit in third place in the WAC standings.

On Friday, the club will take on San Jose State University (3-7-1, 1-1), which has a 2-2-1 record at home this season. The Spartans come into the matchup struggling. Their club has lost six out of the last seven and has only scored four goals within that span.

San Jose State’s defense has not played sharply lately. The Spartans have given up 17 goals in their last seven games and have already given up four goals in two WAC games this season.
Coach Kat Conner is determined for the girls to play with better pace, saying the club looked “sluggish” in a shutout defeat by Seattle on Sunday, 2-0.

“We have to make sure that we play both games,” Conner said before practice Tuesday. “On Sunday against Seattle, we looked sluggish. So, we’ve got to correct that. That’s probably more toward our off-the-field stuff with recovery. So, we are doing more with that, watching their nutrition more, so to speak. Let’s just put it that way.”

The Bobcats gave up three goals combined against the Vandals and the Redhawks this past weekend. The club was outshot 36-19 by its opponents, and the attack is trying to build momentum this week at practice and to get more shots in these upcoming road games.

“Well now that we know how tough the WAC is and how difficult and physical they are, we are just going to have to practice like we are playing against them every day,” said senior defender Alissa Scott. “We need to keep our defense strong. So that way, we (the offense) will pick it up more than they already have.”

After playing San Jose State, the girls head to Logan, Utah to take on the Utah State University Aggies. Utah State is 5-2-6 overall, and 0-0-2 in conference play. On Sunday, Texas State will go against an Aggies team that has not won a game since Sept. 9 and has tied its last three games.

One of those ties came against a WAC rival, 18th ranked University of Denver. The result of that game was 0-0.

“We’re looking to get these two wins this weekend,” said senior midfielder Taylor Kelley. “We’re sitting pretty good and other teams are sitting behind us. So, we’re not down at the bottom and hopefully we can stay on top of the rankings.”

The Bobcats will go on a long west coast trip, which Conner hopes will be productive and successful.

“They’re both playing a 4-3-3 and it’s what we’ve seen all year,” Conner said. “San Jose State is a little more possession-oriented and Utah State is more direct. (Utah State) is like Southeastern Louisiana, who was a big foe of ours, and so we are definitely going to have our work cut out for us on both sides. This will be a long and exciting road trip.”

Twitter: @TState_Sports18