HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston finally tamed the Cougars.
Landri Townsend scored the go-ahead goal in the second half, and
Jasmine Dybala added a key insurance goal late as the Bearkats notched their first-ever win against Houston with a 3-1 victory at the Carl Lewis International Complex on Sunday. The Kats improved to 1-0-1 on the season after battling rival Stephen F. Austin to a 1-1 draw in the opener on Thursday.
The Cougars looked prime to earn another victory in the series when Houston struck first with a goal with just under 34 minutes to go in the opening half. Sam Houston goalkeeper
Cassia Souza would not let it happen again.
The Bearkats were able to regroup and get rolling.
Gabrielle Williams drove home the equalizer in the 28
th minute.
It was a defensive stalemate from there. Houston looked like it might grab the lead in the second half, but Souza challenged the ball and was able to clear it as one of her eight saves.
That allowed Townsend to work her magic. Her 14
th career goal would prove to be the game winner and Dybala put on the finishing touches as the Kats put the game away in a matter of minutes late in the half.
Sam Houston returns to action on Friday when Houston Christian comes to Pritchett Field for a 7:30 p.m. match.
NOTES
• Sam Houston was 0-9 previously in the all-time meeting against Houston.
• Three goals scored against the Cougars is the first multi-goal game against the Cougars since the two teams first played to a 3-2 Houston victory on Sept. 12, 2004.
• The victory was only the second in program history against a Power 5 conference and first over a team from the Big 12. Sam Houston defeated Mississippi State of the SEC 1-0 in overtime at Pritchett Field in the season opener on Aug. 25, 2006.
