SAN MARCOS, Texas - Behind four second half goals and
Victoria Meza's final minute game-winner, No. 17 Texas State (6-0-1) tied its best start in program history on Thursday night in comeback fashion with the victory over Rice (1-3-2) at the Bobcat Soccer Complex.
Rice found the back of the net first in the eighth minute, just the second time a Bobcat opponent has opened the scoring this season.
A red card was issued to Rice in the 21st minute. Despite playing down a player, the Owls proved to be unfazed and scored again in the 22nd minute. In the following sequence, senior
Victoria Meza found herself in a footrace in pursuit of a loose ball off the foot of the Rice keeper, and drew hard contact with the keeper resulting in a second red card issued to the Owls.
The Bobcats were blanked for the first time this season through the first half, leaving a 2-0 Rice lead into intermission.
Sophomore
Matsuri Tsutsui got 17th-ranked Texas State on the board in the 51st minute with assists credited to
Victoria Meza and
Constance Agyemang, finding the top-right of the net.
The Owls, down to just nine players on the pitch, had no plans of withering away when a 65th minute goal extended its lead to 3-1.
After an uncharacteristic first half, the Bobcats began to compete with its player advantage and clawed closer by way of
Nerea Sanchez's header and first career goal assisted by
Annabelle Fisher. Keeping the momentum,
Kaylie Smith delivered the equalizer, tapping in a floating cross from Meza to level the score in the 73rd minute.
The final minute provided one of the best game-winners in the sport, when
Ava Kooker led senior
Victoria Meza who delivered a rocket from 25-yards out, catching the top-left of the net as 924 in attendance erupted for the team who scored three goals in the final 20 minutes to tie its best start in program history, with 89:04 on the clock.
The 2022 Bobcats started 6-0-1 while the 2026 Bobcats matched the record through the first seven contests of a campaign and on a six-game winning streak.
Victoria Meza has posted her third game-winner of the season after coming in leading the conference (9th nationally) in the category.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats hit the road to Louisiana to take on the Ragin' Cajuns on Thursday, Sep. 10. Kickoff with its former Sun Belt Conference foe is slated for 7:00 p.m. (CT).
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