Game Notes

SAN MARCOS, Texas – With two games left in the regular season before hosting the conference tournament Nov. 6-10, the Texas State soccer team is prepping to host UALR and Arkansas State this upcoming weekend. The game against UALR is scheduled for 7 p.m. while the game against Arkansas State on Sunday will start at 1 p.m.

Friday's contest against UALR is the second to last regular season game for the Bobcats and the last regular season game for the Trojans. UALR comes into the weekend with a 4-12-0 overall record and 1-6-0 mark in the Sun Belt Conference.

UALR's lone victory in conference play came against Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 11. The Trojans defeated the Warhawks in a 1-0 shutout.

All of UALR's conference defeats have been just one goal except for one contest. In the game against Georgia State, the Panthers won by a two-goal margin.

The Trojans are under the direction of Adrian Blewitt. Blewitt is in his first year at the helm of the Trojan program. Prior to his time at UALR, Blewitt spent 15 combined seasons at Lees-McRae and Lenoir-Rhyne, two Division II institutions, with an overall recorded of 167-66-12.

Paige Mason is the leading goal scorer for the Trojans, owning four of the team's 17 goals this season. UALR has two goalkeepers (Kylie Wilson and Sara Cavanagh) who primarily split time in the net. The Trojans own a 1.64 goals against average and a .735 save percentage through 16 games this season.

In the final regular season game of the 2013 season, the Bobcats welcome Arkansas State to the Bobcat Soccer Complex. Under the direction of head coach Tafadzwa Ziyenge, the Red Wolves are 9-6-2 going into the weekend and have a conference mark of 4-3-0.

Before the start of the weekend, Arkansas State is currently third in the Sun Belt Conference Standings with 12 points.

One of the biggest victories of the conference season for Arkansas State was the 3-0 shutout over first-place Western Kentucky on Oct. 18. Loren Mitchell recorded two goals in the contest against the Hilltoppers while Amanda Lee recorded four saves in the shutout.

Mitchell leads the league in goals scored this season with 11. She owns a .289 shot percentage and has had a team-leading 21 shots on goal.

Lee is the primary goalkeeper for the Red Wolves, tallying over 1300 minutes in the net along with 83 saves.

Quotes from head coach Kat Conner
What is the mentality going into the weekend against UALR and Arkansas State?
"We have got to find our rhythm back. We aren't in rhythm. We had spurts of it in both games, but it's just not good enough. We have to be ready to not only go 90 minutes, but 110 minutes if it takes that. We have to do better at 90 minutes. We have to be better at the full mental preparedness that the game demands of us. We got caught playing the other team's style last weekend and when the other team starts to dictate the style and it's not yours, you're going to be in a little bit of trouble."

What is something that you can do as a coach to help them mentally prepare?
"Right now we are watching some film and we are letting them see what we are talking about. There has to be an awareness and acknowledgment of what we are seeing and what needs to happen."

Friday's contest against UALR is also the Pink Out game for the soccer team. The Texas State soccer team will be selling its 2013 merchandise and all proceeds will go toward breast cancer research. The first 75 fans into Friday's game will receive a promotional item at the door.

This weekend is also alumni weekend for the Texas State soccer team. All alumni in attendance on Sunday will be announced during halftime. At the conclusion of Sunday's game, the five seniors (Gabbi Cotte, Sydney Curry, Natalie Gardini, Ashley Jackson, and Kelsie Townsend) will also be recognized.