EL PASO, Texas – In a game that featured both teams fighting through a strong defensive battle, the Texas State women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision against UTEP at University Field on Sunday afternoon.
 
UTEP's Aleah Davis scored the only goal in the match midway through the second half as she hit a header past Kathryn Budde at the 72:08 mark. Budde did have three saves in the game as she and Heather Martin combined for five total saves.
 
Texas State tried to get off to a quick start when Kassi Hormuth attempted a shot in the first 32 seconds of the game, but it was blocked by UTEP.  The Miners responded with a corner kick by Nicole Lindsay to set up Davis for a header but her shot went wide of the goal.  
 
The Bobcats tested UTEP's GK Alyssa Palacios twice within 60 seconds between the 12 and 14-minute mark. First, Brooke Ramsey sent a low hard shot toward the goal, but Palacios knocked it away. Then, Hormuth had a high shot, but Palacios was able to cleanly corral the shot.
 
Budde handled another corner kick by the Miners at the 21-minute mark, and thwarted a header by UTEP's Devyn Hunley at 26:24 and a shot by Lauren Crenshaw at the 28:56 mark.
 
In the 33rd minute, Budde had another save when she blocked another header by UTEP's Bri Thomas.  
 
Texas State had another shot on goal at the 63-minute mark when Ali Jones hit a shot towards the net, but Palacios recorded her fifth and final save of the game.
 
It was the second straight 1-0 loss for the Bobcats this weekend after they fell in double overtime at New Mexico State last Friday night. The Bobcats are 2-3-1 overall this year and return to San Marcos for four straight home games. Texas State begins its home stand against Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Northwestern State next Sunday at 1 p.m. The Bobcats will play Little Rock on Sept. 16 and Georgia State on Sept. 18.