Oct. 6, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Eager to earn its first Southland win of 2006, the Texas State women's soccer team did just that in a 4-0 shutout over SLC-newcomer Central Arkansas Friday night in the season's first conference home game at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.

The Bobcats (3-9-1, 1-1-1 SLC) are now back in the thick of the conference race after vaulting over Central Arkansas (5-5-1, 1-2 SLC) and at least two other teams to move out of the bottom of the Southland standings. Texas State can potentially jump higher depending on results from other games around the Southland on Friday but will at worst be sixth among the SLC's nine teams.

Senior Delayna Spivey gave the `Cats a quick lead after she headed in a Kristy Collison free kick in just the second minute of play. Texas State added another goal in the 20th minute when sophomore Marty Wright sliced through the Bears' defense and beat UCA goalie Heather Joye for her first career goal.

Leading 2-0 at the half, the Bobcats stayed aggressive and scored a third goal in the 73rd minute when freshman Lindsay Tippit was awarded a penalty kick and converted. The goal was Tippit's team-leading fifth on the season and fourth in four games. Fellow freshmen Nikki Kinard capped off the night with her third goal in two games on a chip shot over Joye in the 86th minute.

Central Arkansas came into the game with the Southland's second-highest scoring offensive attack, but the Bobcat defense senior goalie Brittany Beltramini stepped up when needed and shut down the Bears. Beltramini finished with four saves in the match and improved to 3-5 in earning her second shutout of the year. Central Arkansas' Joye fell to 5-5-1 in the loss.

The Bobcats won't get to celebrate long in order to prepare for Southeastern Louisiana, who comes to San Marcos on Sunday, Oct. 8. The Lions lead the conference in goals per game and also have the SLC's best overall record at 7-3-1 pending the result of their match against UTSA.

Kickoff for Sunday's game will occur at 1 p.m. at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.