NACOGDOCHES — The Sam Houston soccer team battled until the end but fell to Stephen F. Austin 2-0 at SFA Soccer Field as the two rivals met for the first time as members of the Western Athletic Conference in the league opener Friday.
 
The Bearkats (2-6, 0-1) had a couple of opportunities to score early in the first half. Katarina Baehren and Ashley Friedrichs both had shots at the goal but could not get anything past Lumberjack keeper Madeline Talbot.
 
SFA (3-5-1, 1-0) broke the scoreless tie with a goal in the 24^th minute. Teia Haynes was able to strike the ball into the top-left corner of the net out of the reach of Sam Houston goalkeeper Abby DeLozier.
 
The Lumberjacks added an insurance goal in the 68^th minute thanks to a penalty kick. Bearkat keeper Tatum Krueger made great effort to save it, but Mattie Musser was able to sneak it past her to the lower-right corner of the net to make it 2-0.
 
DeLozier and Krueger combined for seven saves in the loss.