COMMERCE, Texas – Three times Texas State (3-3-1) found the back of the net in the first half as it went on to claim a 3-1 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce (1-5-1) Sunday afternoon at Lion Soccer Field. The win snapped a seven-match road winless streak for the Bobcats dating back to last season.
 
"Commerce is much better than their record shows and will do really well in the Southland Conference. This was our first afternoon road match, which are the toughest ones to play," said head coach Steve Holeman. "I was proud of our team's effort and our ability to keep the level high throughout the match. We had some nice goals but can definitely learn from this game. It was important for us to get this result as a follow-up to Thursday's game."
 
The Bobcats took 14 shots on the afternoon with a balanced attack that saw Sydney Bassa, Lily Erb, Halle Garcia, Marie Philipzen, Kaylie Smith and Mady Soumare take two attempts apiece. Finding the back of the net on the afternoon was Mya Ulloa, Bassa and Garcia.
 
In goal, Caitlyn Draper made four saves in the match with two each in both halves.
 
Ulloa got the scoring started early in the 18th minute. Kaylie Smith passed it to the fifth-year senior in the middle of the field. She had plenty of time to place her shot into the top of the goal just below the crossbar for her second goal of the season. Also earning an assist on the score was Chloe Jones.
 
Near the backend of the 32nd minute, Alexis Neal saw her shot save and the ball bounce to Marie Philipzen. The junior's rebound attempt was cleared away by a Lion defender on the Lion. The ball ricocheted over to Bassa, who smashed it into the wide-open net to increase the advantage to 2-0.
 
Wrapping up the scoring in the first half was Garcia. The sophomore received a throw-in from Philipzen and was able to turn to free herself from a defender. Garcia put a low shot past the keeper for her first tally of the year.
 
The start of the second half saw TAMUC come out as the aggressors. This resulted in them turning over TXST in its defensive half and seeing Draper must make a diving stop just over five minutes into the period.
 
Just two minutes later, the Lions won a free kick down the left flank. Ashley Campuzano sent the ball into the box that Nia Chacon headed into the left corner to put the hosts on the scoreboard.
 
Erb nearly put Texas State back up by three early in the 80th minute when her long-distance shot sailed just wide of the right post. A minute later, Draper again came up big with a diving save to prevent TAMUC from cutting the Bobcats' lead to a goal.
 
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