Texas State got hot.
The score stood still for almost an hour in between halves as Texas State (1-4-1, 1-0-0 Sun Belt) controlled a 1-0 lead over the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (2-0-2, 0-0-1) at Bobcat Soccer Complex. The visitors hung two goals on the maroon and gold in a three-minute stretch, putting the Bobcats in a tough position trailing late in the match.
It looked as if the hosts would have to wait another week to put their first tally in the win column. But sophomore forward Kiara Gonzales shrugged off a defender outside of the goal line and strung a kick past the outstretched hands of the Ragin’ Cajuns goalie to tie the match at 2-2.
“It was all such a big rush that I saw the ball coming across and I put my body in front of her and we both bodied it and I just saw my moment and took my shot with power and next thing you know (it hit the) top of the crossbar and down into the goal it went,” Gonzales said.
Less than two minutes later, Gonzales was stationed in the right corner and let off a cross that bounced off a Louisiana defender and straight back to her. Again, the Austin native sent another cross, but this time it got through as bodies collided and freshman midfielder Emma Jones found a way to connect with the ball and secure the 3-2 win over Louisiana at home.
Head coach Kat Conner believes that playing a tougher regular schedule prepared the team for battles like this.
“I think we saw that coming from having so many games and having to fight so hard and having to always plug away and alway come back,’’ Conner said. “I think that helps you in a game like this. You know, (Louisiana) was a good, strong steam and we tried to hold onto a one-point lead and then come back with two and we just knew we have to give that fight and I think battling with such great competition before helps you bring that spirit and character that you need to come back from in a game like this”.
The win marked the first of the season and conference play for the Bobcats. It didn’t come easy, though.
About halfway through at the 75-minute mark of the match, Louisiana threatened with a shot that went left off of the crossbar. The miss didn’t faze the visitors. A minute later, freshman midfielder Caitlyn Ferguson squeezed through the defense and found a way to let off a shot that hit the back of the net with ease. The score was knotted at 1-1 but it didn’t take the Cajuns long jump in front after that.
With a knee brace on her left leg, senior midfielder Una Einarsdottir kicked the ball from outside of the white lines from the left side of the pitch that flew past Texas State freshan goalkeeper Beth Agee.
Junior midfielder Ally Kewish said the team believed immediately after Louisiana falling behind that they could make a comeback. In the first half, it was the score by Kewish that let off a finesse shot right right down the middle of the goal. Her score, in addition to the defense, held Louisiana’s outside attack scoreless in the first half. That game plan propelled them to the first win of the season.
“They were looking to play wide, so we needed to shut down their outside players and close them down and keep them locked into one side so we were really focused on that. But more than that it was our mentality that made it happen,” Kewish said.
The three goals are the most in a match by the Bobcats. The program now holds a 4-1 record in conference openers since 2016.
“It feels great to win. I know we haven’t been doing that so it feels great to win and of course being conference makes it special, again. But it just means we have a tough road ahead,” Conner said. “Little Rock is gonna be a tough opponent and so is Arkansas State. This side is not going to be easy, it’s going to be a tough side.”
Texas State starts a four-game road stand in Arkansas against Little Rock (0-1-0) on Sept 25. at 7 p.m.
