Women's Soccer | 8/26/2015 4:15:00 PM

 
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State soccer team returns home Friday evening for its home opener against McNeese State at 7 p.m. The home opener will kick off a two-game home stand for the Bobcats as they will welcome UTEP Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
 
Texas State won the season opener with a 2-0 shutout at Houston last Friday before Sunday's match against Houston Baptist was canceled due to lightning in the area.
 
Last Time Out
Against the Cougars, Lauren Prater got the Bobcats on the board with a first half goal to take a 1-0 lead. The resilient Cougars attempted to come back in the second half, but a great effort by senior goalkeeper Caitlynn Rinehart and the Texas State backline held Houston scoreless while Lynsey Curry put the nail in the coffin with her first goal in the 89^th minute.
 
It was just the second time in program history in which Texas State defeated the Cougars. The only other win came in 2007.
 
After her performance against Houston, senior goalkeeper Caitlynn Rinehart was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week. She recorded three saves and her 10^th career shutout for Texas State. Click here for the complete release of her award.
 
A Look At The Competition – McNeese State
The Cowgirls are off to a 2-0-0 start including a 5-0 shutout against Prairie View A&M on Tuesday evening. Five different players for McNeese State have scored this season, including Bettina Brulhart and Gabi D'Alesandro who own two apiece.
 
Head coach Scooter Savoie has been at the helm of the Cowgirl program for 17 seasons. A graduate of McNeese State, Savoie has won 111 games as the head coach of the Cowgirls.
 
McNeese State opened its season up with a 2-1 victory over Sun Belt Conference foe UL Monroe. The Cowgirls fell behind in the ninth minute of the contest, but a pair of goals in the second half lifted McNeese State to a comeback victory.
 
Texas State owns a 17-8-1 advantage over McNeese State. The last time Texas State competed against the Cowgirls was back in 2013 when McNeese State won, 2-1, in double overtime.
 
A Look At The Competition – UTEP
Coming into the weekend, UTEP has gotten off to a 1-1-0 start in 2015. The Miners fell in the season opener to Eastern Washington by a score of 2-1 before defeating Abilene Christian, 1-0, on August 23. UTEP is led offensively by Angela Cutaia and Bri Barreiro who have each scored this season.
 
In program history, Texas State trails UTEP 2-9-1 with the last Bobcat victory coming in 2011. The last meeting against UTEP resulted in a tie in the season opener last year.
 
Kevin Cross is at the helm of the Miner soccer team and entering the weekend he owns a 174-95-19 overall record.
 
Follow the Bobcats
To stay up to date with the Texas State soccer team, go online to www.txstatebobcats.com or follow the soccer team on Facebook (Texas State Soccer), Twitter (@TxStateSoccer) or Instagram (@TxStateSoccer).