Kats conclude road trip this weekend
9/22/2016 8:00:00 AM | Soccer
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State soccer team begins the second weekend of Southland Conference play on Friday as the squad seeks its first win following a challenging non-conference slate and tough result in the Southland opener.
The Bearkats visit Houston Baptist on Friday and take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Sunday to conclude their nine-game road trip that has spanned games across four states. Friday's match is slated for 7 p.m. while Sunday's first touch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
“Our girls are a resilient bunch,” assistant coach Sarah Lowdon said. “We've all been part of the game long enough to know there will be peaks and troughs throughout the season. We're just plugging away every day. Everyone is staying positive which helps.”
Sam Houston (0-9, 0-1 SLC) has focused its efforts on improvement and has seen just that. The Bearkats found the back of the net in the opener against Central Arkansas, snapping a five-game scoreless streak, and believes the tide will turn in the form of victories.
“Every game in the Southland Conference is a winnable game,” Lowdon said. “This week especially we've been working on our training and some of the things we can exploit. We are hoping to go in and get a result against Houston Baptist. We just want to see progress. I think over the past nine games, we've seen progress moving forward.”
The Huskies enter the weekend at 3-5 overall and 1-0 in the Southland Conference. The team opened league play with a 1-0 home victory against Incarnate Word. Friday's match will be the third of four straight games at the friendly confines of Sorrels Field.
Meanwhile, A&M-Corpus Christi is still seeking its first win after a 0-8 start. The squad dropped its league opener last Saturday, 4-0, against Abilene Christian. The team hosts Stephen F. Austin on Friday before the Kats come to town.
Following the weekend set, Sam Houston returns home for the first of three straight games. The Bearkats have been on the road since Aug. 21. The Kats begin the home stretch with McNeese next Friday at 6:30 p.m. When the team arrives back, it will be as a closer group than when they left.
“It hasn't just been on the road here and there, we're traveling halfway across the country playing great teams,” Lowdon said. “Last year we weren't on the road a lot. I think the team is a lot closer this year. Obviously, we've gotten to know each other a little bit better.”
