SAN MARCOS, Texas – On Senior Day, the Texas State soccer team punched its' ticket to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with a 3-0 win over Georgia Southern Sunday afternoon at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.
 
The Bobcats conclude the regular season 9-7-2 on the season and 5-4-1 in conference play while the Eagles are now 6-10-1 overall and 3-6-1 in the Sun Belt. Both teams have to wait for the result of Tuesday's match between Arkansas State and Little Rock for their seed (TXST) or if they make the tournament (GS).
 
A throw-in on the far side by Gabie Jones to Kalen Sanderfer was knocked back to Jones early in the 11th minute. The sophomore sent the ball into the box to Kaylee Davis, who slotted her shot into the lower left corner for the opening goal.
 
The Eagles responded with immediate pressure to try to find the equalizer. They were able to take two shots over the next two minutes but only one was on frame. A long attempt by Nicole Aussin was easily handled by Heather Martin for the save.
 
Ally Kewish came on about midway through the 21st minute and two minutes later the move paid off. Jordan Kondikoff won the ball and passed the ball over to Jessica Pikoff in the attacking half of the pitch. Pikoff found Kewish, who took a touch and sent in a floating shot from 25 yards out. The ball went over the goalkeepers' hands and under the crossbar to put Texas State up 2-0 on the sophomore's first goal of the season.
 
The Bobcats had two more good looks to increase the lead in the 37th minute. Kewish took another shot that beat the goalkeeper but bounced off the right post. Kayla Streber was there for the rebound that saw the keeper making a diving stop.
 
Mackenzie Smith nearly found the back of the net in the 53rd minute. Her shot attempt hit off the crossbar and bounced away.
 
Midway through the 55th minute, Davis broke through the GS backline and got taken down from behind in the box by Claire Amici and issued a yellow card. Davis stepped up and converted the penalty kick to increase the advantage to 3-0. It was the Allen, Texas native's third made penalty kick of the season, a new TXST single season record.
 
The goal was the 33rd in Davis' Bobcat career to move her into a tie for 15th in Sun Belt history. She matches Middle Tennessee's Shan Jones (2008-11) on the list.
 
Kathryn Budde made her first career appearance in a conference match of her career when she entered for Martin early in the 71st minute. The San Antonio native made a save two minutes after entering on a long, high shot by the Eagles.
 
Three minutes later, Kiara Gonzales almost had her first career goal if it wasn't for a kick save by the keeper. Kamaria Williams also came close to tacking on a goal in the 79th minute but was denied at the near post.
 
The Bobcats dominated the match with a 17-5 advantage on shots and 8-4 in shots on goal. Davis led all players with six shots, with three being on frame. Kewish was the only other TXST player with multiple shots with a career-high four and placing two on goal.
 
Martin made three saves in just over 70 minutes between the posts and Budde stopped the one shot that she faced. The shutout was the ninth of the season for TXST.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is the Sun Belt Tournament that will take place Nov. 6-10 in Foley, Alabama at the Foley Sports Complex. Both opponent and match time are still to be determined as they will be between the third and sixth seed.
 
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