Game Notes
San Marcos, Texas – Texas State is set to open the home slate much like the previous two seasons as it will host Prairie View A&M on Friday evening at 7 p.m. Then, on Sunday, Texas State will travel to Oklahoma for its first TV game of the 2013 season for a 12 p.m. kickoff.
This will be the sixth straight meeting between Prairie View and Texas State at the Bobcat Soccer Complex, the first dating back to September 11, 2005. The first meeting between the two squads was in Prairie View, Texas. The Bobcats have shutout the Panthers, going 6-0 all-time against them while outscoring them 35-0.
In the last contest between the two squads, the Bobcats came out on top by a 3-0 margin. Despite struggling to get the ball rolling in the first half, Texas State responded with three goals in the final 21 minutes of the game. The Bobcats outshot the Panthers 23-2 in the game with 11 of those shots on goal.
Prairie View A&M wrapped up the 2012 season with a 9-11-0 overall record and a 4-10-0 record on the road. Head coach Abe Garcia is in his sixth season at the helm of the Panthers.
Sunday's matchup at Oklahoma will mark the second all-time meeting between the two teams, with the first occurring back in 2005. The Sooners took ownership of the first contest, beating Texas State in Norman by a score of 3-0.
The Bobcats made only three shots that evening, each coming from sophomore Natalie Jackson in the first half. Oklahoma halted any Bobcat offense as Texas State failed to take any shots in the second half.
Oklahoma's Savannah Scott scored two goals for the Sooners, one in the first half and one late in the second. The final goal of the contest came with just under five minutes to play in the second half from Michelle Enos.
Leading into this weekend, Oklahoma has started the 2013 season with a 1-1-0 overall record. Before hosting Texas State on Sunday, the Sooners will travel north to Stillwater, Okla. to take on Oklahoma State.
Senior Goalkeeper Natalie Gardini
What are the team's emotions heading into the home opener on Friday?
"We're excited because it's another chance for us to play on our home field and we always like to play at home. At home, you can get your fans involved and we're looking to just take care of business while we can."
Head Coach Kat Conner
How does your loss at SFA help prepare you for the upcoming weekend?
"First of all, it was a great learning weekend. Having to go on the road and play on Friday night was very emotional, physical, and mental just because even though it wasn't a home opener, it was still a season opener and everyone wanted to go out and win it. The kids were physically, mentally and emotionally invested in the game and to be able to turn around and do that same thing against Stephen F. Austin [is very difficult]. SFA is such a great rival of ours and the players really wanted to win. Our players fell flat and couldn't come back out and do it. We did make some silly mistakes in the first 15 minutes that we have to improve upon. We learned to be a little more aggressive on the defensive side and even be a little more aggressive on the offensive side to make something happen. It's a young season and there is still room [to make those improvements], and that's what we're looking to do this upcoming weekend."
What is the mindset coming into the Prairie View contest?
"It's always about who we are, not necessarily who we're playing because we're always trying to play at our peak performance. Again, the issues we'll be looking at are our offensive ideas and defensive ideas and of course just get after them. It's a home opener and you know there's going to be a lot of energy again for players to get out there and make it their night. We're going to keep ourselves in check and keep ourselves grounded so we are able to get going for the Oklahoma game."
What does the team look forward to as they travel to Oklahoma on Sunday?
"It'll be a long trip, but I think the players will be ready. They are looking forward to it. I know that it's a great opportunity in the sense that it could help them [accomplish] one of their goals to get into the RPI top 50. They're looking at it to be a good game to make a statement."
