Sam Houston State downed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 3-1, on Sunday, notching the program's first regular-season victory, coming in the team's fourth Southland Conference match.
“I thought we had a very good mentality,” head coach Tom Brown said. “We came out and scored early. We took our first off the gas pedal a little bit and it took them scoring to wake us back up but overall I thought we were able to control the ball and move it very well.”
The Bearkats (1-9-1, 1-1-1 SLC) recorded a season high in goals and for a second straight match registered a multi-goal performance. Just 31 seconds in, Allie Johnson put Sam Houston on the board, collecting the ball in the six-yard box on a cross to put it home.
After the Islanders (0-10-0, 0-3-0 SLC) evened up the match on a Chayse Bauer goal in the 47th minute, Kaylee Davis used an assist nine minutes later from Johnson for the 2-1 advantage. Johnson, who had a hand in all three goals, provided the game winner in the 73rd minute with the assist from Davis.
“I think she's done a good job and has a nose for the goal when she is in and around the goal,” Brown said of Davis. “I thought today she created a good partnership with Kaylee up top. Kaylee is a dynamic player. We felt strong about her for a long time. She is playing like the player we thought she would be. She had really had an outstanding weekend.”
For the second straight game, the Kats notched a season high for shots on goal, notching nine while outshooting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 17-10 in the match. Johnson finished with five shots in total while Davis logged four and Taylor Pritchard finished with two.
Johnson, a senior from Allen, now owns 21 career goals, just six shy of the Sam Houston record of 27, held by Racquel Bueno (2005-08). Johnson has finished with eight each of the past two seasons after recording one during her freshman year.
Anna Kaiser posted another strong effort in the net, registering five saves while allowing one goal. The Bearkats had eight corner kicks to the Islanders four. Friday's 2-2 tie against Houston Baptist broke the Kats nine-game losing streak and Sam Houston carried the momentum in Sunday.
“I think we're a better team with all the new players we have,” Brown said. “Some of the chemistry is being sorted out where they have an idea where other players will be and the type of ball they want played. Those are things that will take time and just take patience. I think that is coming to fruition. Four points on the road is not bad so we'll take that.”
The Bearkats, who have played nine straight and 10 of the first 11 away from home, return to Pritchett Field for three straight beginning Friday against McNeese at 6:30 p.m. Sam Houston faces Lamar on Sunday at 1 p.m.
“We really appreciated that crowd we had (against UTSA) and we hope we can get more crowds like that,” Brown said. “It really helped our players. For players to be home and be in a normal routine will help them. You can tell some players are fatiguing because of the travel. It will be nice to get good training at home.”
