Bobcats prepare for Senior Night match against Warhawks

The Bobcats are set to celebrate Senior Night on Friday, hosting Louisiana-Monroe.

“My emotions are really sad but also excited,” senior forward Hannah Solano said. “I'm really sad, obviously, this being my last time playing with these girls and the last time my whole family being able to see me play. But I'm really excited to see what the future holds for myself and for all the other seniors and to see what's to come.”

Texas State has four seniors on this season’s roster. They signify the last remaining members of the 2018 team that won the Sun Belt regular season championship that are still within the program.

“I think it's gonna be a little surreal playing my last game on this field,” senior defender Gabie Jones said. “And being with these girls for the last time on this field is going to be a little sad. But I think all good things also have to come to an end, so just enjoying my last moments here with everyone.”

“I think it's gonna be really hard for me knowing that this is my last time competing on the field I spent the past four years on,” fellow senior defender Addison Gaetano said. “But it's also going to be a celebration of my collegiate career and all the years that I played soccer.”

The maroon and gold currently sit in fifth place in the league with 13 conference points. A win over the Warhawks on Friday could move the team up as high as the No. 3 seed. A tie or a loss could mean losing their spot in the top half of the table.

Head coach Kat Conner said she tries to avoid talking about the stakes of the match with her players. She just wants them to focus on playing their best, especially for the seniors.

“I think (I'm excited for) just, like, really soaking in the last couple moments of playing with this team in conference and just kind of really enjoying myself and the atmosphere that our home field has to offer,” senior midfielder Ally Kewish said.

Texas State (7-6-2, 4-4-1 Sun Belt) takes on ULM (10-3-1, 3-3-1) on Senior Night inside Bobcat Soccer Complex at 5 p.m.

“I think, one, they've brought a standard of what you're supposed to be — I think, one, fitness-wise and then, two, of like how you carry yourself on and off the field,” Conner said. “I think they've done that very well and I think that's something as a coach, you try to find players that will do that because ultimately, you don't want to sit here and listen to a head coach tell them what you're supposed to be. Instead, you need those role models. And this foursome has done that, they take care of us as on and off the field and they always do that standard. And so, that's really nice.”