FOLEY, Ala. – A recording setting performance by Texas State on a rainy Wednesday evening in a 4-0 victory over Coastal Carolina that advanced the team to the Sun Belt Championship Final for the first time since 2018. The four goals are the most in program history in a conference tournament match while the team recorded its fifth consecutive shutout to tie the team record.
 
The win sees TXST improve to 12-4-5 overall while the Chanticleers' season ends with an 8-7-6 record.
 
"I thought we did a nice job of disrupting their rhythm and a great job of finishing our chances. This was definitely not your average game with the long delay in the second half but our girls handled it well," said head coach Steve Holeman. "It's a great feeling to be heading to the finals in such a competitive league. I am really proud of what we've accomplished so far but our team knows there is more to be done."
 
Dealing with rain from the onset, the Bobcats struck three and a half minutes into the game when Lily Erb sent a bending shot into the right netting for the early advantage.
 
Six minutes later, Mady Soumare dribbled into the box that drew two defenders. She dumped the ball off to an open Mya Ulloa for a low shot that deflected off the goalkeeper and in to extend the advantage to 2-0.
 
The Bobcats defense limited CCU to three shots in the opening 45 minutes as they all came between the 14th and 22nd minutes.
 
Anna Dunch sent a long ball into the box that saw Victoria Meza and a Chanticleer both attempt to head the ball. It hit off the defender and went behind both of them. Another CCU defender attempted to clear the ball but due to the wet ground it just died on the spot. The El Salvadorian would get enough of the ball with her left foot to put it just inside the left post and out of the reach of the goalkeeper to make it a 3-0 contest just over four minutes into the second half.
 
Late in the 65th minute, Sydney Bassa was knocked down from behind by the CCU keeper as she was diving for the ball for a penalty kick. Kaylie Smith stepped up and put her attempt into the right corner for the Bobcats' fourth goal of the match.
 
The contest would then be halted due to hazardous playing conditions from all the rain for 80 minutes.
 
Play resumed for another six and a half minutes before a Chanticleer player went down with an injury at the 71:26-minute mark due to the wet field conditions. After a discussion between the coaches, referees and tournament officials, the match would be called as it had surpassed the required 70 minutes of play to be an official contest.
 
Texas State held a slim 7-6 advantage in shots but were the most efficient team with six being place on goal to CCU's one. Meza was the lone Bobcat with multiple shot attempts with two.
 
In goal, Katelyn Chrisman played the first 64:50 minutes and made one save. The senior extended her shutout streak to 474:19 minutes. Caitlyn Draper played the final 6:36 minutes and did not face a shot.
 
Next up for the Bobcats is the tournament title match against either James Madison or Old Dominion on Saturday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
 
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