FOLEY, Ala. – For the first time since 2018, the Texas State soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Championship with a 2-0 on Monday over App State.
 
The win sees the Bobcats improve to 11-4-5 overall while the Mountaineers' season ends with a 7-7-5 record.
 
"It is never easy to beat a quality team twice in the same season. This was a big win for our program and it's great to advance to the semis in such a competitive league," said head coach Steven Holeman. "I thought we controlled most of the game but it was never comfortable. We had two nice finishes and our defense was solid. We will definitely enjoy this result."
 
Texas State dominated possession throughout the entire match and held App State without a shot until 28 minutes into the contest. Prior to that attempt the Bobcats got on the scoreboard when Mya Ulloa slotted a shot into the bottom left corner midway in the 24th minute off passes from Lily Erb and Mady Soumare.
 
A foul gave TXST a free kick near midfield two and a half minutes into the second half. Zoe Junior was able to get a head on the kick and Soumare knocked it past a defender. The junior forward avoided the oncoming goalkeeper to send the ball into the open net to double the advantage.
 
Halle Garcia nearly made it a three-goal advantage midway through the 76th minute when she smacked an attempt that saw the Mountaineer keeper making a diving stop on.
 
The best chance for the Mountaineers to get back into the contest came when Ellie Garrison took a tight angled shot that saw Katelyn Chrisman make a jumping save with eight minutes left on the clock.
 
Texas State held a 9-7 advantage on shots and 5-2 on attempts on goal. The team also took four corner kicks while holding App State to none. Both Garcia and Ulloa took a team-high two shots on the day.
 
In goal, Chrisman stopped two shots to record her fourth consecutive shutout. She has not allowed a goal in her last 409:29 minutes on the pitch. The four straight shutouts for the Bobcats are tied for the fourth longest streak in program history and one shy of tying the record.
 
Next up for TXST will be either Coastal Carolina or South Alabama on Wednesday. Kickoff for that match is set for 4 p.m.
 
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