HOUSTON – The Texas State soccer team (5-3-0) went on the road and pulled off one of the biggest wins in program history as it beat previously undefeated Houston (6-1-1) 1-0 Sunday night at the Carl Lewis International Complex. The victory was the Bobcats' second ever over a Power 5 program with the first coming back in 2002 at Texas Tech.
 
"This was a really big win for us. Houston is a very talented team who's been scoring a lot of goals, so keeping a clean sheet was a big challenge," said head coach Steve Holeman. "The team showed tremendous effort today and this was a great way to finish up our non-conference."
 
The lone goal of the match came from Victoria Meza off a free kick early in the 75th minute. It was one of her team-high four shots on the night, all of which were put on frame. Taking two shots apiece were Chloe Jones, Zoe Junior and Addison Peters.
 
Getting the start in goal was Caitlyn Draper. The decision to put her between the posts paid off huge dividends. The freshman made 11 saves on the evening with six of them coming in the final 45 minutes. Draper's save total were tied for the fifth most in a match in team history and was last achieved by teammate Beth Agee at Rice on Sept. 2, 2021.
 
The shutout was the first of the Hutto, Texas native's career as it came against a Houston team that had been averaging four goals a match.
 
The best chance of the night for the Cougars came in the 15th minute. A cross into the six-yard box saw Draper punch the ball away and fall to the ground. The ball came to Cameryn Maddox, who put the ball towards goal. Draper was able to recover and push the ball away past the post to keep the match scoreless.
 

15' Draper with great reaction to keep the match scoreless!#EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/1yOFpOrMrH

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) September 11, 2023

 
In the 31st minute, TXST nearly got on the scoreboard when Meza sent a long ball towards Junior on a counterattack. The junior forward had a good look from inside the 18-yard box but miss hit her attempt that was easily handled by the UH goalkeeper.
 
Junior would have another great look just three minutes later. She received a through ball into the penalty box from Jones but sent her shot wide of the left post.
 
The second half was a back-and-forth affair with the Bobcats not giving the Cougars many good looks at goal.
 
Lily Erb was able to draw a foul just inside the midfield line. Kennley Bradley sent the ball into the box that saw Meza adjust in midair to head the ball while battling a defender while the keeper was also late coming off her line. The ball bounced off a UH defender and back to Meza, who hit a first timer past a couple of Cougars and into the back of the net to put Texas State in the lead.
 

GOAL!!! Meza finds the back of the net to take the lead!

75' | 1-0 #EatEmUp pic.twitter.com/6fslS7AOEu

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) September 11, 2023

 
The Bobcats continued to put pressure on the hosts as 90 seconds later Meza almost headed in a free kick from Mya Ulloa. The ensuing corner kick would see Peters get a shot off that deflected off the back of UH player and bounce off the crossbar.
 
Alexis Neal took the final shot by either team in the early part of the 82nd minute. She took a rip from just outside the 18-yard box that sailed slightly wide of the left post.
 
Next up for TXST is the Sun Belt Conference opener against Louisiana. The match takes place Sunday, Sept. 17 at the Bobcat Soccer Complex and will kickoff at 1 p.m.
 
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