NACODOCHES — Sam Houston battled rival Stephen F. Austin down to the wire to open the 2025 season with a 1-1 tie at SFA Soccer Field on Thursday evening.
The Bearkats led for most of the first half and well into the second thanks to an early goal by
Tiana Johnson in head coach Kendall Ayers' debut. The Lumberjacks managed to tie it late in the second half during a scrum after a corner kick.
Sam Houston had some chances late, but SFA was able to stop the attack. The two squads also tied 1-1 in Huntsville last season.
Bearkat keeper
Katie Bahn faced a tough first 20 minutes as SFA rattled off several shots before SHSU got its first. Bahn punched away two would-be goals to keep the Lumberjacks off the board.
That set up Sam Houston's first goal of the season.
Indigo Sims made a move down the right side of the field then crossed the ball into the box. Johnson slid in with a perfectly placed toe punch that slipped past the keeper to put the Bearkats on top 1-0 in the 25
th minute.
Sam Houston stays on the road to travel to Denton to face North Texas on Sunday at 7 p.m.
