SAN MARCOS, Texas – Senior Kiara Gonzales capped off her time on the pitch at the Bobcat Soccer Complex by heading home the deciding goal of a 1-0 victory over App State Thursday night. The victory clinched the fifth seed in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
 
The Bobcats wrapped up the regular season with a 12-4-2 record and went 6-3-1 in conference play while the Mountaineers are now 6-8-4 overall and 5-5-0 in the Sun Belt. The 12 victories are tied for the second most in a regular season and tied for the fifth highest total in a season. TXST also claimed a share of the West Division crown with South Alabama as both teams totaled 15 points against divisional opponents.
 
"I thought we played incredibly well tonight. This was certainly one of our best performances of the year," said head coach Steve Holeman. "Of course, it came down to a little bit of drama. We were still 0-0 and had a lot of opportunities. What a server by Juana to Kiara finishing off a header. We will take the 1-0 win cause it helps us avoid the play-in game on Monday."
 
The first 45 minutes were a stalemate as the teams combined for five total shots with four coming from the Bobcats. Zoe Junior had one of the two shots on goal with her attempt on frame coming in the early part of the 14th minute. A free kick into the box nearly found Lindsey Salisbury but Avery Thies was there at the back post and her touch was cleared off the line by an App State defender with less than 90 seconds left in the half.
 
Just 30 seconds into the second half, Junior sent in a cross from the far side that hit off the crossbar. Madi Goss was there with two follow-up tries but both were blocked by Mountaineers.
 
App State's Breckyn Monteith nearly put the visitors on the board with a rocket of an attempt from 25 yards out in the 48th minute that saw Katelyn Chrisman make a leaping save to push the ball over the crossbar.

What a save by @chrismank0!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/BN3eLZxhg5

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) October 28, 2022

 
Haley Shaw had a look on goal late in the 56th minute when Gonzales sent a ball across the field. Off a bounce, Shaw made solid contact with her right foot but saw the ball get parried away by the keeper.

56' Great rip by Haley Shaw#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/VKpoxy7kAr

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) October 28, 2022

 
On the ensuing corner kick, the ball flew just past the far post where Gonzales was able to flick it back into the middle. The ball hit off an extended elbow of a Mountaineer, but no whistled was blown, and landed nearly Carolina Kirschner. Her ensuing attempt was smothered by Kerry Eagleston on the goal line to keep the match scoreless.
 
The breakthrough for Texas State came in early in the 77th minute. App State tried to clear a corner kick but Juana Plata was able to chase it down. She had plenty of time to send the ball back into the box and Gonzales found enough separation to head it towards goal. Eagleston got a fingertip of the ball but it crossed the goal line for the senior's 10th career goal.

GOAL!!! @kiaramgonzales with a beautiful header to break the scoreless contest!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/bCVvyKgdhk

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) October 28, 2022

 
Only one shot was attempted by the Mountaineers over the final minutes of the contest. It came off the foot of Skyler Walk from over 30 yards out with 30 seconds remaining and sailed high and wide of frame.
 
The Bobcats held a 17-5 shot advantage that saw Addison Peters, Goss, Gonzales, Junior and Plata all have two attempts apiece.
 
Chrisman made three saves on the night to record her fourth shutout of the season.
 
Next up for TXST is a meeting with No. 4 seed James Madison in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament. The match is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff from the Foley Sports Complex in Foley, Alabama.
 
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