Game Notes
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State soccer team continues its brief, two-game road stretch by traveling to McNeese State on Friday evening. The team then returns to the Bobcat Soccer Complex to host Rice on Sunday.
Friday's contest in Lake Charles, La. features two former Southland Conference foes in Texas State and McNeese State. The Bobcats currently hold a 17-7-1 advantage over the Cowgirls, but McNeese did capture the last contest between the two teams on Sept. 16, 2012.
Along with Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State has played the most games against the Bobcats with 25. In that span, there have been six overtimes including two double overtime affairs. Texas State has won four out of the last five and are 5-2-1 overall in Lake Charles.
On Sunday in a contest against Sun Belt member Louisiana-Monroe, McNeese head coach Scooter Savoie captured his 100th career victory. The 2013 season marks his 15th season at the helm of the Cowgirl soccer program and he has an all-time coaching record of 100-143-25.
McNeese State has started the 2013 season off with a 3-1-0 overall record. After hosting Texas State on Friday evening, the Cowgirls welcome Louisiana Tech on Sunday to complete their six-game homestretch.
On Sunday, the Bobcats welcome the Rice Owls to the Bobcat Soccer Complex. Rice is 5-2-1 overall against Texas State, claiming the previous five matches. In that span, Rice shutout the Bobcats on three occasions.
The Owls have started the 2013 season with a 1-1-1 record, falling to Stephen F. Austin in their home opener before trying with Sun Belt member Western Kentucky in a double-overtime game. Rice's first victory of the season came in game number three as the Owls defeated Vanderbilt on the road by a 3-2 margin.
Rice is under the direction of Nicky Adams, who is in her third season as the head coach of the Owls. In her first full season at the helm of the program, Rice posted a tie against nationally-ranked BYU on the way to the program's first double-digit win total in three years.
Head Coach Kat Conner
What is the mindset coming into the game against McNeese State?
"We're trying to rebound off of that Oklahoma game and we're trying to get ourselves refocused. It's going to be hard because you're going into their field, which is smaller than ours and that will create a different nuance because we won't be able to run away from them. They are also very scrappy and a very physical team that likes to play very direct. It'll be a tough battle for us because we won't like to play direct and we like to keep possession."
How is the team preparing for the game on Sunday against Rice?
"To tell you the truth, they are just like McNeese because they both play the same style. That will be very helpful in preparation for this weekend. Rice has several great players from the west coast and we are going to have to figure out how to defend them. Right now, we've got to get a win back, get our confidence back and McNeese is our first thought [right now]."
