Nov. 5, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - 2006 Texas State women's soccer season came to a dramatic end Sunday as the Bobcats lost 1-0 to McNeese State in the Southland Conference Tournament Final before a record crowd of 1216 at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.

The match between No. 5 seed Texas State (7-13-2, 5-4-2) and No. 6 seed McNeese State (10-6-2, 6-4-1) marked the first time in SLC Tournament history that the two lowest seeded teams met in the tournament final. McNeese State also became the first No. 6 seed to win the tournament and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's College Cup.

After a scoreless first half, Cowgirl forward Kamryn Koch scored in the 50th minute to give McNeese State a 1-0 lead. Koch was able to weave her way through the Texas State defense along the left side before launching a shot at the right post that Bobcat goalie Paige Perriraz couldn't stop.

Texas State then went on a furious offensive attack in an attempt to tie the game, and had several opportunities that fell just short. For the match the Bobcats out-shot McNeese 15-8 and had eight corner kicks to the Cowgirls' three.

Aside from solid defense from the McNeese back line and goalkeeper Shelby Money, the Cowgirls were helped out twice in the second half by the crossbar. The first came in the 65th minute when the Bobcats had a free kick from near the corner deep in McNeese territory. When the ball was sent in, an attempt to clear by McNeese went off the crossbar and harmless back into the field of play as Texas State couldn't capitalize.

Then, in the game's 87th minute, Elyse Ehlinger had a shot on a rebound inside the McNeese box, but her attempt hit off the crossbar and again bounced back into the field of play.

The Bobcats got three more shots off in the game's final minutes, but none were too threatening as McNeese held on for the win.

After the game, Bobcat Head Coach Kat Conner and the team were awarded the tournament runners-up trophy while McNeese was handed the tournament trophy. The 2006 SLC All-Tournament Team was also announced.

A quartet of Texas State seniors earned honors as Kristy Collison, Kim Phillips, Perriraz and Natalie Holder (Ball) were named to the team. They joined McNeese's Renee Landers, Money, Koch, Ja'Nae Powell and Justine Lords as well as Stephen F. Austin's Amanda Alders and Southeastern Louisiana's Kari Yost on the all-tournament team. Koch was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The 2006 Women's College Cup field of 64 teams will be announced Monday afternoon on ESPNews at 2 p.m. Central.