Kats back at Pritchett for weekend set
9/29/2016 4:00:00 PM | Soccer
Matches 12–13
Friday, Sept. 30 • 6:30 pm • Huntsville, Texas • Pritchett Field
Sam Houston State (1-9-1, 1-1-1 SLC) vs McNeese (4-6-0, 0-3-0 SLC)
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Sunday, Oct. 2 • 1:00 pm • Huntsville, Texas • Pritchett Field
Sam Houston State (1-9-1, 1-1-1 SLC) vs Lamar (1-9-1, 0-2-1 SLC)
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HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Sam Houston State soccer team is looking to continue its momentum as it returns home from a nine-game road trip to host McNeese on Friday and Lamar on Sunday in Southland Conference action.
The Bearkats downed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 3-1, on Sunday to earn the squad's first win of the regular season, highlighted by a season high in goals for the second straight match. Last Friday, the Kats recorded a 2-2 tie at Houston Baptist.
“I think what we anticipated with trying to get the chemistry right and finding the groups that could play together took some time and we knew we could,” head coach Tom Brown said. “I think now that we're getting into conference, those starter-type players have a better understanding of each other. We wanted to make sure those things happened at the right time. It has gotten much better this past week.”
Sam Houston will play three straight at home and have the opportunity to play at Pritchett Field for the first time since Aug. 21 against UTSA. In that match, a crowd of 535 spectators helped the team rally in a back-and-forth match that ultimately ended in a 5-2 Roadrunners win.
“We had a great fan base against UTSA when we were here,” Brown said. “We hope those groups and more will come out. I think being at home and being able to sleep in your own bed is a plus. All the traveling can disrupt your training rhythms. We were happy we got four points on the road last weekend.”
Sam Houston forward Allie Johnson ranks ninth in Southland for both shots (24) and goals (4) while goalkeeper Anna Kaiser is fourth in saves (54) and sixth in saves per game (5.40). Despite facing a strong non-conference slate early, the Kats believe they have turned the corner at the right time.
“When you test yourself against Alabama, Texas and Rice and schools like those, their ability makes you adapt,” Brown said. “Now that we're in conference and not facing those same athletes and players, the spaces seem bigger the way we perceive the pressure. I think things are coming along. The team was happier in the warm-up this morning. We're looking forward to being here at home.”
THE SERIES
vs McNeese
Sam Houston is 9-5 overall against the Cowgirls including a 5-2 record against McNeese at home. The Bearkats have won eight straight in the series dating to 2008 and five straight at home, a streak that began in 2005. The Bearkats edged McNeese, 2-1 in double-overtime capped by Madison Cannon's golden goal.
vs Lamar
The Kats own an impressive 9-2 all-time mark against the Cardinals and 3-1 record at Pritchett Field. Sam Houston has won three straight in the series and four of the last five overall. Sam Houston bested Lamar, 1-0, in Beaumont a season ago, at the time moving the program's record to 4-1 in Southland play.
