SAN MARCOS, Texas – A preview of the defender positions of the 2020 Texas State soccer team.
 
The Bobcats return five players that recorded significant minutes last season on the backline.
 
Leading the group is Holly Streber at one of the center back positions. The senior led the team with 1,769 minutes played over 19 matches. Over her first three years in the maroon and gold, she has started 51 contests.
 
Battling for playing time alongside Streber is senior Sarah Everett and sophomore Avery Thies. Everett was a 2018 All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team honoree and made the conference's preseason team in 2019. The past two season has seen her play in 35 matches and help Texas State record 20 shutouts. In her first year with the Bobcats, Thies made 14 appearances with two starts and played 538 minutes.
 
At left back, Gabie Jones played in 18 matches, starting 15, while recording her first career assist in 2019. Looking to take over at right back is Addison Gaetano. The junior has started has 20 matches over her 31 appearances in her first two years at Texas State and split time between center and outside back.
 
"Gabie is an excellent little defender and she's always consistent and thorough," said head coach Kat Conner. "Addison has come in with a winning mentality that this is going to be the best season.
 
"I think with that backline, it gives us a little bit more of a foundation. That doesn't' make it as quite as daunting to have a freshman goalkeeper between he pipes," said Conner. "I think that's a good backline and we're getting them to try to work together and trust each other."
 
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