FOLEY, Ala. – Texas State came away with a 2-1 victory Monday night at the Foley Sports Complex over Louisiana in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Championship. It was the Bobcats' first win in the tournament since a quarterfinal victory in 2018 and first time scoring two goals in a conference tournament match since 2013.
 
The Bobcats improved to 9-6-4 on the season while the Ragin' Cajuns conclude their year with a 7-9-2 mark.
 
"I'm proud of the team and their effort tonight. Nice to get a win in the conference tournament and excited to advance," said head coach Steve Holeman. "We did some really good things today and will need to be at our best for Wednesday. We'll enjoy this one tonight and get ready tomorrow for a quick turnaround."
 
Louisiana ended up with a 10-9 edge on shots with most of the attempts coming in the first half with seven. Olivia Wright led the way with three shots, two of which were on frame, for TXST. Both Zoe Junior and Alexis Neal took a shot apiece.
 
In goal, Caitlyn Draper made seven saves on the night. Five of her stops came in the first 45 minutes. She now has 61 saves on the season and is one shy of tying Amanda Bryd's 2007 total for the third most by a freshman Bobcat goalkeeper.

10' A diving stop by Draper!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/7MghNQRE4A

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) October 31, 2023

Draper got hops!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/LF2Qf7NGGC

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) October 31, 2023

 
The Cajuns took five of the first six shots of the match. Four of them were on frame and stopped by Draper. The Bobcats' first crack at goal came from Olivia Wright in the 12th minute off a cross courtesy of Junior. The low attempt was stopped as the keeper fell on top of it with her back.
 
A free kick was earned a little over 20 yards away from frame by TXST late in the 29th minute. Lily Erb sent a low ball into the box that bounced around and saw a Louisiana defender attempt to clear it. The ball ricocheted off of Wright and past the goalkeeper to give the Bobcats a 1-0 advantage on the senior's team leading seventh goal of the season.

GOAL!!! A clearance attempt deflects off of Liv & in!!!#EatEmUp x @OliviaWrightttt pic.twitter.com/99PbM7U0mk

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) October 31, 2023

 
Nearly 55 minutes into the contest, a cross into the box found Junior and she put the ball past the keeper. However, the tally was called back as the junior forward was a step offsides when the ball was played.
 
Lucy Hart sent a cross into the box with nearly 19 minutes left on the clock. A defender got her head on the ball but sent it right back into the middle just outside the six-yard box. Mady Soumare was there to pounce and blasted a left-footed shot past the keeper for her fourth goal of the season that also doubled the lead.

GOAL!!! Soumare blasts one from close range past the keeper to double the lead!#EatEmUp x @Mady_SM9 pic.twitter.com/paGIt4qG8o

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) October 31, 2023

 
The Cajuns would press forward and were able to find an equalizer just over halfway through the 88th minute when Hailly Waterhouse hit a one-time into the upper right corner off a cross from Sisley Stephens.
 
The last chance for Louisiana came from Lauren Bennet with 19 seconds to play. Her shot was popped up in the air but easily caught by Draper.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is a meeting with the regular season champions and No. 1 seed South Alabama in the quarterfinals. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
 
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