Notes
San Marcos, Texas – The Texas State Soccer team heads to El Paso for two games in the Miner Classic, Wednesday and Friday. The Bobcats will face UTEP on Wednesday and Army on Friday. Both games are at 7:00 p.m. mountain time, 8:00 p.m., central.
The game against UTEP, is the 10th all time between the two. Texas State won a 1-0 thriller last year in San Marcos on a goal from Taylor Kelley.
Friday's matchup against Army is the first meeting in program history. Army is a member of the Patriot league and enters the game 1-1.
The Bobcats are coming off a Sunday night victory over Sam Houston State, 1-0. Jourdan Brown scored the game winning goal off a cross from Serena Hines.
Pregame Quotes
Head coach Kat Conner
On what the team is looking to build on from Sunday's game
“Well for sure we've got to start right away. We started slow against Sam Houston, but I know against UTEP and Army, they're ready for the battle, ready to get a goal. We have to get mentally right and get possession as quick as possible. We can't let 20 minutes go by.
In that part we have to do a better job of transitioning, defense to offense. We're getting better.in that area, but can still find things to work on.
On playing three games in five days
“We've got to watch players' minutes, watch them in the game and see how they're performing and fatiguing. During practice, some players will be held out a little more, because they've played so many minutes. We'll have to really manage their minutes and their fitness level overall.
It's a crazy, hectic time. Soccer players have to get 20 matches in two-and-a-half months, and that's a hard thing to do. It's good though. It will help us keep our fitness level up, make us go into our bench and get lots of experience for our bench. That's only going to make us better in the long run.”
On whose play has surprised so far
“I'll tell you who's been surprising me so far, and it's a pleasant surprise, is Bridget Richie. I thought she was just big time. We subbed her in the last 15 minutes of the first half, and she did some good things. The second half we started her, and I thought she started to wear Sam Houston down. Their defensive line was tired from her being such a busy person up front. She was pressuring them, and getting in behind them, putting them on their heels. That allowed us to initiate our attack. I'm really impressed with Bridget, I think she's done a great job for us.
There's all sorts of players who are tapping into what they can do, in the freshman ranks. I think the freshmen are going to be really good.
Sophomore midfielder Ali Myers
On what she took away from the Sam Houston game
“I thought we played really well. We moved the ball around and transitioned from defense to offense as a unit really well. We battled pretty hard in those 50-50 balls.”
On what team is building on going into UTEP
“I think our speed of play needs to be faster and more dynamic. When we're going to goal, we want to take more shots and finish more shots.”
Junior defender Ashley Jackson
On what the team is looking to build on from Sam Houston
“We're looking to play at a faster pace. Our first 20 minutes, we were looking just to get in the swing of things, so we're needing to pick it up the whole 90 minutes.
On what she remembers from playing UTEP
“They're a fast team, but it was a good, aggressive game, so I know they'll be ready to come out and be aggressive.”
On playing familiar foe in UTEP and unfamiliar foe in Army
“I don't think it will be a difficult challenge. Even though we've played Sam Houston and UTEP before, the team's different each year, so I don't think Army will be that big of a difference.”
