Bearkats Prepare for Tough Road Trip
9/12/2013 4:40:00 PM | Soccer
The Bearkat soccer team will play their next six games on the road including the final two nonconference games, against former Southland opponent Texas State, Friday at 7 p.m., and SMU, Monday at 7 p.m.
Sam Houston (2-2-1) is coming off of 3-0 home win over Prairie View A&M last week and will be looking for their first road victory. The road schedule has been tough with games against Texas-San Antonio, South Dakota State, and North Texas.
“We don't really think about it like our struggles have come on the road,” said head coach Tom Brown. “The struggles have just come because we haven't been able to completely fulfill our roles and responsibilities in the game and I think we did a better job of that in the last game.”
Texas State (2-3-1) is winless in their last three games with a scoreless tie with Rice in their last match. The Bobcats have wins over Southland foes Houston Baptist and Northwestern State and losses to Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State.
The Kats have just one win over Texas State, 1-0 in 2006, with a goal from the SHSU all-time leading scorer Raquel Bueno. Texas State ended the Bearkats season in 2009, 2010 and 2011 by knocking them out of the Southland Tournament.
“We've had good competition against Texas State the last few years,” Brown said. “We know we'll have to play really well but we've had a good week of training. We're excited about what we can do once we get over there.”
Sam Houston will cap off its tough nonconference schedule with SMU Monday. The Mustangs are 3-3 this season and have a 2-1 mark at home.
Brown hopes the competitive early season games will prepare the team for a successful Southland Conference run.
“These games help point out some of the weaknesses that we have. If you have a weak nonconference schedule you may do a lot of winning but you also have some things that haven't been exposed,” said Brown. “That will help us by exposing some of those things, whether individually or in the team.”
The Kats open league play Sept. 20 with Abilene Christian on the road. The next home game is Sunday, Oct. 6 against Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m.
