SAN MARCOS, Texas – A match between the Sun Belt Conference preseason favorites lived up to its billing as the Texas State and South Alabama soccer teams battled Thursday night at the Bobcat Soccer Complex. The Bobcats came out on the wrong end as the Jaguars scored with just under two minutes left in the second overtime in a 1-0 contest.
 
TXST drops to 4-4-1 on the season and 0-1-0 in conference play while the Jaguars are now 6-2-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the Sun Belt.
 
Nearly three minutes into the match, Kaylee Davis made a quick turn and took a crack at goal from 18 yards out. USA's Justice Stanford was charging out and dove the wrong direction but the ball ended up wedged between her knees to prevent an early Bobcat score.
 
In the 21st minute, TXST appeared to take the lead when Davis headed in a cross from Addison Gaetano. However, the assistant referee had his flag raised for an offside call on the Allen, Texas native to negate the score.
 
The Texas State defense held the Jaguars to just two shots for the first 30 minutes. The visitors had two quick attempts in the 32nd minute. A shot from Chloe McGlade was blocked but Gracie Wilson followed up with a solid look that ended with Heather Martin making a diving stop.
 
With 29 seconds remaining in the half, Morgan Cross made attempted a sliding shot about five yards out from the near post. Her solid connection was denied by Martin as she made a sliding save at the post.
 
The Jaguars placed two shots on goal in the second half that was stopped by Martin prior to a lightning delay that lasted nearly 80 minutes. Coming out of the delay, Davis placed a shot on goal early in the 71st minute that was kept out of the goal.
 
In the first overtime, the Bobcats took two shots, both being off target, while denying USA any looks.
 
TXST were able to get two more shots off in the final overtime period with one being blocked out for a corner kick.
 
USA won a corner kick about midway through the 108th minute. The ensuing inswinger was punched out by Martin while getting run into by a couple of Jaguars. No whistle was blown on USA and they received another corner as the ball went over the backline. The second corner ended with Ana Helmert heading home the lone goal of the match.
 
The Bobcats took 12 shots but were only able to place two on frame. They did have a 10-6 advantage in corner kicks with half of them coming in the first 45 minutes.
 
Davis led all players with four shots with half of them being on goal. Taking two shots apiece were Jordan Kondikoff and Kamaria Williams, who made her first collegiate start.
 
Martin made six saves on the night to give her 238 in her career. The Midlothian, Texas native is now 10 stops away from moving into second place in program history.
 
The Bobcats are off until Friday, Sept. 27 when they travel to face Little Rock for a 7 p.m. match.
 
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