By Joshua Orozco
Assistant Sports Director

The defending Sun Belt regular season champions began their hunt to claim a conference title with a hard fought 1-0 victory over the University of the Incarnate Word on Friday.

Bailey Peschel, freshman, scored the first and only goal of the game 38 minutes into her collegiate career. 

UIW couldn’t quite pass the defensive brick wall goaltending duo of seniors Kathryn Budde and Heather Martin. Martin played in the first half, making her 213th career save in the process. Budde took over the goalkeeping helm for coach Kat Conner in the second half, recording a pair of saves and securing the win for the ‘Cats.

Kaylee Davis, Sun Belt conference preseason offensive player of the year, had a team-high five shot attempts throughout the game but couldn’t capitalize offensively.

A mixture of both veteran players and newcomers alike displayed the Bobcats most dangerous weapon: their depth. The Bobcats never let the Cardinals gain scoring momentum with the help of veteran upperclassmen Jordan Kondikoff, Sarah Everett and Holly Streber, who played all 90 minutes. 

Freshman midfielder Karlee Torisk took advantage of her playing time during her first collegiate game, tallying the only assist for the ‘Cats on Peschel’s opening half goal.

Texas State only had five shot opportunities in the second half after starting with eight in the first 45 minutes. The Bobcats retaliated with solid defense of their own, demonstrating grit and determination in a small sample size of what is to come this season. 

Texas State will look to continue their success as the ‘Cats take the pitch once again at the Bobcat Soccer Complex against the Prairie View A&M Panthers at 1 p.m. on Aug. 25.

Full coverage of the second game of the season can be found on KTSW 89.9 FM, the official radio station of Texas State University.

Featured image courtesy of Texas State Athletics.