SAN MARCOS, Texas – Two first half defensive mistakes were costly to the Texas State soccer team as the Bobcats fell 2-0 to Northern Arizona at the Bobcat Soccer Complex in the season opener for both programs.
 
TXST begins the year 0-1 for the first time since 2010 while the Lumberjacks are now 1-0 overall.
 
Starting the game, the Bobcat were aggressive as they won a corner kick just 27 seconds into the match. Brooke Ramsey got a foot on the in-swinging ball but sent a towering shot over the net.
 
NAU netted its first goal of match late in the 22nd minute. Both Heather Martin and Chandler Cooney collided going to a ball in the air, followed by a poor clearance by another Bobcat defender saw the ball end up at the feet of Mei-Te Coco. She sent the ball into the left corner of the net for the score.
 
In the 34th minute, Carly Gamble knocked home a short pass from eight yards out from Ma Yarnell-Williams after another bad clearance by the TXST defense.


 
Jordan Kondikoff had a great opportunity to cut the deficit in half near the end of the 56th minute. She turned to her left and fired a shot that ended up in the left side netting of the goal thanks to a deflection off a Lumberjack defender.
 
On the ensuing corner kick, Alyssa Phelan got her head on the ball but NAU's goalkeeper easily corralled the attempt on net.
 
In the middle of the 63rd minute, freshman defender Sarah Everett cleared the ball from the top of the 18-yard box. She was then taken down as the Lumberjack's Malia Lyken slide into her with her spikes up and knocking Everett out for the rest of the game.
 
The last chance for the Bobcats in finding the back of the net came off a corner kick with 10 minutes left in the game. Renny Moore connected on the ball sent in by Jamie Brown, but the header attempt flew over the top of the net.
 
Kondikoff led all TXST players with two shots attempts. Both Sydney Kammer and Phelan placed a shot on net.
 
In the goal, Heather Martin got the start and made two saves in the first half. Kathryn Budde stopped all five shots that the Lumberjacks placed on net in the final 45 minutes of the match.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a 1 p.m. match at home with Louisiana Tech, which is coming off a 1-0 victory at McNeese.
 
All home matches for Texas State are free admission. Parking for fans will be available at the Speck Street Parking Garage along with limited spaces southwest of the Soccer Complex except on Aug. 20 against Louisiana Tech. Because of new student move-in day taking place around the complex Aug. 19-20, fans are recommended to park along Sessoms Drive Lots R18 and R40.
 
For more information on the Texas State soccer team, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, like on Facebook at Texas State Soccer and follow on Instagram and Twitter at @TxStateSoccer.