LOGAN, Utah – Despite Bobcat keeper
Caitlyn Draper's career-high 11-save effort, No. 22 Texas State fell in the Pac-12 Conference opener to No. 19 Utah State by a 2-1 final score on Thursday night at Chuck & Gloria Bell Soccer Field.
Utah State defended its turf out of the gate and owned the possession game early. Four saves inside the first 20 minutes between the posts from
Caitlyn Draper kept the back line fighting, but the Aggies converted an opportunity and found the back of the net in the 23rd minute.
A penalty issued to Texas State inside the box spotted Utah State with a penalty kick opportunity it would execute to take a 2-0 advantage after the 35th minute.
Jenny Ngankem delivered a corner kick in the 35th minute that was tapped in the back of the net from inside the box, but the goal call on the field would be overturned after VAR showed slight contact with the keeper for a Bobcat foul as the result. The 2-0 Aggie lead would remain true into halftime.
Nine minutes into the second half, the Bobcats found life when
Matsuri Tsutsui led
Constance Agyemang with a pass from midfield, when Agyemang kept her momentum and fired a shot past the diving Aggie keeper and scored, which cut the Utah State lead in half.
Utah State placed 13 shots on frame with the pair of goals including the successful penalty kick, but
Caitlyn Draper's effort was good to tie a career-high 11 saves. Draper's last 11-save night was at then-No. 13 Oklahoma State, setting up a clean sheet in the scoreless draw on Sept. 5, 2024.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Steve Holeman
"We now know why this is such a tough place to play. Utah State is very good and we didn't do a great job of managing the game. They were relentless in their attack and we struggled to create anything in the first half. We showed some resilience in coming back to cut the lead but at the end of the night they were the better team. Draper was outstanding in goal and was easily the player of the match for us."
UP NEXT
The Bobcats return home for their Pac-12 Conference home opener versus San Diego State on Sunday, Oct. 4. Kickoff from the Bobcat Soccer Complex is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (CT).
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