Coach Conner Delights In 2015 Soccer Season

By Adam Byerly
Sports Reporter

The 2015 Texas State soccer team exceeded expectations by finishing third in the Sun Belt Conference with a 12-6 record. The 2015 season marked a better finish than their 11-7-2 record in 2014. All of this happened after Coach Kat Conner was diagnosed with cancer and went on leave to recover. Coach Link Scoggins and Coach Lauren Frazier stepped in to fill the vacant role for much of the season. Coach Conner was proud of how the Bobcats performed this past season.

“No one would ever think that would happen,” said Conner. “And as a head coach, going down and being out for the season, you immediately worry about what’s going to happen. I was more than proud of them, I think Coach Link did a fantastic job of leading the team and Coach Lauren with the defense and goalkeepers. They did a great job getting them going and keeping them on the mission of winning that first Sun Belt Championship and then to get in that NCAA tournament. Lynsey Curry and Kristen Champion stepped up as captains and led them on the field and took the strategy of what Coach Link and Coach Lauren said and applied it to the games. I think they did a fantastic job and I’m proud of this program.”

There was a part of the soccer season were the team won seven games in a row, including a two overtime win versus Little Rock and an overtime win versus Arkansas State in a three day span.

Lauren Prater and Lynsey Curry led the team with scoring. Prater scored 12 goals in her junior year while Curry scored 11 goals in her senior season.

With Texas State having another year under their belt since they joined the Sun Belt in 2012, some rivalries are starting to brew.

“We put a star on South Alabama, Troy and Appalachian State for sure,” said Conner. “Troy and South Alabama have had our number and that’s not good. There is always going to be that want to beat both of them. And Appalachian State always gets up for us and we get up for them. Us two coaches know each other well so that adds fuel to the fire. Those will be the ones that will be starred but you can’t take any game lightly in the Sun Belt and it’s going to be a tough conference.”

Curry took the Sun Belt offensive player of the year in her final season.

Coach Conner will be looking at getting back with the team in 2016 and working with her seven new recruits.