Box Score
Box Score
Natchitoches, La. – In one of its most impressive defensive displays of the season, the Texas State Soccer team defeated Northwestern State, 2-0, Friday night at the Demon Soccer Complex in Natchitoches, La.
It took the Bobcats 15 minutes to gain control of the game, with neither team registering a shot until the 31:30 mark. However one shot is all it took for Texas State to get a lead. Felicia Leak took a ball at the midfield line and dribbled down the center of the field unimpeded, until dishing it off to Sydney Curry on the left wing who put it past Northwestern State's Jessica Danku for her fourth goal of the year.
Texas State played tight defense in the first half, not allowing a shot of any kind. The Bobcat offense managed six shot attempts, four of which were on goal. Curry led the way, with three total shots in addition to her goal. The Demons, on the other hand, did not register a shot until the 67th minute.
In the 54th minute, Kelsey Bernard had a free kick just a yard outside the 18-yard box, and her ensuing shot was saved by Danku's fingertips.
The Bobcats would make up for the missed opportunity a minute later, when Felicia Leask started a 2-on-2 attack as a result of a rebound off a blocked Northwestern State free kick. After the Lady Demons recovered on defense Kendell Webber unleashed a shot that was blocked, but Leask put the rebound home for her seventh goal in the last six games, to make it 2-0 Texas State.
Although Natalie Gardini only saw four shots at her, she was responsible for thwarting numerous attacks, en route to moving her record to 2-1-0 this year. In the 72nd minute, the Lady Demons tried to make a cross to the back post, but Gardini used all of her 5-11 frame reach up and snare the ball out of the air.
In the 80th minute, NWST's Ashlee Savona launched a shot that looked to get into the top part of the goal, but Gardini again extended her reach to catch the ball and keep the Lady Demons scoreless.
With the win, Texas State improves to 8-5-0 overall and 3-1-0 in Southland Conference play. The Bobcats return to play on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., against Central Arkansas.
