ATLANTA – A second half goal by Georgia State was the difference as Texas State saw its six-match undefeated streak end Friday night at the GSU Soccer Complex after falling 1-0.
 
The loss dropped the Bobcats to 6-4-2 on the season and 1-1-2 in the Sun Belt Conference while the Panthers are now 7-1-3 overall and 3-0-0 in league action.
 
"I thought it was a really good game for both teams. Georgia State is very good and the action was end-to-end," said head coach Steve Holeman. "At the end of the day, it came down to one player making a special play. We certainly created enough opportunities to get a positive result but we have to better in front of the goal."
 
Victoria Meza led the way with three of Texas State's 13 shots on the night. One of her attempts was placed on frame along with one apiece from Madi Goss, Chloe Jones, Zoe Junior and Addison Peters.
 
In goal, Caitlyn Draper made four saves on the night with three coming in the final 45 minutes.
 
TXST had a couple of good looks in the first 45 minutes. One of the best came from Peters in the 29th minute off a corner kick as her attempt saw the GSU keeper drop to her knees to make the stop. Goss would take a tough angled shot that nearly caught the goalie by surprise but was knocked down with just over 90 seconds left in the period.
 
In the 51st minute, Jones flicked on an incoming corner kick to the far post but was denied a goal as the keeper dove to keep the match scoreless.
 
Jimena Cabrero nearly put the hosts in front seven minutes later as her shot clanked off the left post and back across the frame before it was cleared out. The Panthers would eventually score the lone goal of the contest as Seika Ikezoe got inside the box and put her foot on a cross in from Maddie Johnston near the end of the 69th minute.
 
A stifling GSU defense only allowed two Bobcat shots the rest of the match. The first came midway through the 83rd minute with it being a long-distance attempt from Anna Dunch that sailed just over the crossbar.
 
Two minutes later, Lucy Hart sent a long ball into the box that saw Olivia Wright and a defender battle. The ball hit off of Wright and towards an open Junior, who's one-timer flew slightly wide of the left post.
 

That close to tying the match pic.twitter.com/KvMoqXTbV7

— Texas State Soccer (@TXStateSoccer) September 30, 2023

 
Next up for TXST is a home match with Coastal Carolina on Thursday with kickoff set for 7 p.m. from the Bobcat Soccer Complex.
 
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