Bobcats fall in Sun Belt Quarterfinals to Jaguars

Facing the regular season champions and undefeated South Alabama did not deter Texas State. The Bobcats battled to the end in a 2-1 setback to Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship from the Foley Sports Complex.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Steve Holeman was proud of the team’s effort despite the loss.

“It was a really good game tonight that could have gone either way,” Holeman said. “I don’t think anyone watching would have guessed it was a 1 vs. 8 seed. Our girls really stepped up and competed extremely hard. We created quite a few quality chances but just couldn’t find the equalizer.”

“It’s always tough when your season comes to an end but this entire group can be proud of how we finished.”

With the result, TXST ends its season at 9-7-4 while the Jaguars are now 16-0-3.

Five different Bobcats attempted two shots on the night. Mya Ulloa put both of hers on frame including one into the back of the net for her third goal of the season.

Caitlyn Draper made five stops on the evening. She finished the year with 66 saves that ranks as the third most by a Texas State freshman goalkeeper.

The Jaguars struck just over 10 minutes into the match when Jasmine Greene sent a through ball that Abby Jacobs was able to run onto. The graduate senior defender sent a short, low cross past the frame of goal and Monique Gray was there to knock the ball into an empty net for a 1-0 advantage.

Ulloa took a shot from 19 yards out that saw the USA keeper leap to push the ball over the bar to keep the Bobcats off the scoreboard in the 18th minute.

In the later half of the 47th minute, Wimberley Wright sent a ball into the box. Olivia Wright headed it back into the air where Ulloa was able to run on and head the ball just inside the left post to tie the score. It was the first goal scored by the Bobcats against the Jaguars since the Sun Belt Championship semifinals on Nov. 2, 2018.

A ball got behind the TXST backline and saw Chiara Singarella win the race to it. She would get enough separation from just outside the box and sent a shot just out of the reach of a diving Draper into the right side netting to put the Jaguars back in front.

A couple of great opportunities still awaited the Bobcats for a chance to tie the match. The first came in the 66th minute when W. Wright attempted a left-footed shot from eight yards out but it sailed just past the left post. The second was off a corner kick that saw Zoe Junior send the ball from over 40 yards out on to frame and the USA keeper had to make a leaping stop to prevent it from going just under the crossbar.

The last chance for Texas State came off a corner kick in the 87th minute. The ball bounced to Mady Soumare, who was able to get her knee to it, but the Jags’ goalie made a diving stop.