Nov. 2, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Natalie Holder (Ball) picked a perfect time to score her first goal of the 2006 season as her goal in the 84th minute broke a scoreless tie and proved to be the game winner as fifth-seeded Texas State knocked out fourth-seeded and defending tournament champion Northwestern State Thursday in the opening game of the 2006 Southland Conference Soccer Tournament.

Paige Perriraz recorded six saves to earn her second shutout as the Bobcat defense stepped up in the game and stifled All-SLC First Team members Erin Hebert and Marliese Latiolais.

Both teams missed excellent scoring opportunities throughout the game. Texas State nearly got on the board midway through the first half when Ashley Brown took a charged shot from inside of 10 yards, but Demon goalie and All-SLC Second-Teamer Krystle Donaldson deflected the shot out of bounds.

The Demons' Hannah Casey and Julie Zavala tried to turn the tables in the 33rd and 37th minutes, but diving saves from Perriraz preserved the shutout. Northwestern State had another chance in the 64th minute, but a Lacie Hughes shot was deflected over the net.

The goal by Holder (Ball), who got married this summer, came when Rikki Padia sent in a low cross from the left side that went straight to the Bobcat senior, who beat Donaldson in the left corner for the score, sending the Texas State bench into a frenzy.

Texas State will now move on to face the tournament's #1 seed, regular season champion Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions earned a first-round bye with a 5-0-3 conference mark and allowed just two goals all season to Southland opponents. Southeastern Louisiana also features 2006 SLC Player of the Year Kari Yost as well as a league-high six all-conference selections, including five on the All-SLC First Team.

The Bobcats and Lions battled to a scoreless draw that took two overtimes on Oct. 8. Texas State's Brittany Beltramini and SLU's Crista Wood stopped a combined nine shots in 110 minutes.

The game will be the first of two semi-final games to take place on Friday. Tournament #2 seed Texas-San Antonio earned the other first round bye and will take on the winner of #3 seed Stephen F. Austin and #6 seed McNeese State, who played in the late game Thursday night.

The Texas State-Southeastern Louisiana game starts off Friday's action with a 4:30 p.m. kick off. The UTSA-SFA/McNeese game is scheduled for a 7 p.m start.