Nov. 7, 2008
Final Stats
Lake Charles, LA - The Texas State Bobcats have been unbeaten since September and two months later, the trend stands strong as the team fought to its 11th-straight undefeated match and taking a 1-0 decision over the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions Friday evening in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Championship Tournament.
The win advances Texas State to its fifth title game appearance in school history, sporting a 12-3-4 overall record. The Bobcats are 3-1 in championship contests, with its lone loss in surrendered to McNeese State in 2006.
The pair will meet again this year in the title game after the Cowgirls took a 3-1 decision over UTSA tonight in the semifinal game to advance.
Sunday's game is slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff at the Ward 3 Recreational Complex and live stats will be available on the Southland Conference website. The league also offers a live stream of the championship game on SLC NOW.
In tonight's action, Texas State and Southeastern Louisiana both rallied their offenses for 12 shots. Texas State rattled off 11 shots in the first half before the Lady Lions defense stepped up and rationed the `Cats to just one shot in the final period of regulation.
"Southeastern really got after us in the second half," said head coach Kat Conner. "We had to fight and scrape our way to the end and we worked as a team to fight them off. It was definitely a great team effort by our ladies up until the last second on the clock."
SLU managed to hold off the offense in the second half, but not before the decisive damage had been done in the first. As a sea of Texas State jerseys rushed towards the goal, Southeastern attempted to clear the ball but overstepped and Lauren Lewis was there for the remains, punching in the game-winning goal.
The first half ended with the Bobcat defense holding SLU to just two shots, one of which fell on goal from such close range, but Bobcat goalkeeper Mandi Mawyer stood strong between the posts.
"Mandi never faulterd tonight," said Conner. "SE took some point blank shots on her and she was focused and ready for everything. She played an excellent game tonight."
The one-goal advantage managed to hold up to the Lady Lions, but definitely without a fight. SLU held a 10-1 margin in shots over the `Cats and had six corner kick chances to threaten the tie. Mawyer snagged two more saves in the latter period to end with three and record her eighth shutout of the season, but the `Cats back line played a crucial part in the victory as well.
"Our defense took it to a whole new level tonight," said Conner. "Anna Fagan, Jessica Elting, Christina Racanelli and Jessica Lewis took on Southeast without caution and they really kept the game in our favor with that attitude and effort."
"Overall, we're still a young team so Sunday's game will be a new challenge for many of them. We're hungry for the Championship and we're focused and ready to win one."
The Southland Conference Championship game kicks off at 1 p.m., and Texas State has advanced to the NCAA tournament three times - 1999, 2001 and 2004.
