FOLEY, Ala. – After surrendering two goals early, Texas State battled back to tie the match in the second half. However, it would James Madison that claimed the Sun Belt Conference Championship title match 3-2 with a goal early in the 89th minute at the Foley Sports Complex.
 
"I'm really proud of our effort to come back from two goals down against a quality team like JMU. We had a lot of momentum after we equalized and really felt like we were going to win this game," said head coach Steve Holeman. "Their goalkeeper came up with a few big saves at the end. They punished us for our mistakes early on but outside of that I thought we played really well tonight."
 
With the result, the Bobcats end the season with a 12-5-5 record while the Dukes are 12-3-5 and will find out their first round opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Monday.
 
"It's tough to see this season come to an end but I'm really proud of this group of seniors and their commitment to put Texas State on the map," Holeman said. "We accomplished more than most people thought we could and have set a standard of excellence for the future."
 
Texas State kept the early possession but a counter by the Dukes ended with Shea Collins hitting the back of the net 4:17 into the match. The goal ended TXST's shutout streak at five matches and 474:46 minutes, the sixth longest timewise in program history.
 
Nearly eight and a half minutes later, JMU added to its lead with a goal by Sophia Verrecchia.
 
Early in the 22nd minute, Kaylie Smith was attempting to get to a long ball heading to the back post when a Dukes defender pusher her down. Mya Ulloa stepped up and put the spot kick just inside the left post to cut the deficit in half.
 
Zoe Junior got to a clearance off a JMU corner kick and got a breakaway opportunity. The senior was able to get just enough on her shot to see the ball trickle over the line to tie the match at 2-2 in the 55th minute.
 
In the early part of the 70th minute, Helen Alormenu got a by her defender and unleashed a shot from just inside the 18-yard box. The Dukes' goalkeeper made a diving save while off her line to keep the contest knotted up.
 
JMU retook the lead with just under two minutes left on the clock when Collins hit a shot into the near post for her second goal of the night.
 
The Bobcats had a late opportunity off a free kick with 30 seconds to play. The ball bounced around and saw Victoria Meza get a foot on it. Lucy Hart would then unleash a shot towards the right post that saw JMU's keeper make a diving save to keep the ball out.
 
For the match, the Dukes outshoot TXST 13-6 with the difference being in the first half with an 8-1 advantage. Junior and Ulloa led the Bobcats with two shots apiece. Taking a shot apiece with both being on frame were Alormenu and Hart.
 
Katelyn Chrisman made five saves in the match with three coming in the first 45 minutes.
 
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