Bobcats Defeats Bearkats 1-0
by Cheval John
Texas State Bobcats eliminated the Sam Houston State Bearkat soccer team in the semifinal round of the Southland Conference Post-Season Tournament last year in a penalty shoot out to advance to the championship game.
Since then, the Bearkats regrouped and returned all of their starters and were looking to avenge their loss on Sunday night when the Bobcats came to town in a non-conference match.
But it was not meant to be as the Bobcats defeated the Bearkats 1-0.
“I thought we had some good opportunities early on,” head soccer coach Tom Brown said.
“Unfortunately, we just didn’t capitalize on them.”
The Bobcats had possession of the ball for most of the game and kept the Bearkats out of rhythm.
They came out of the gate in the second half when Tori Hale blasted a shot from 18 yards that went wide.
They kept up the intensity as they created more chances that resulted in four more shots that either were on goal or went wide.
The Bearkats had their share of opportunities when freshman Ashley Alonzo blasted a shot inside the box, but was saved by Texas State goalkeeper Natalie Gardini.
It remained scoreless until the 85th minute when Serena Hines went down the right side of the field and crossed it to the left post.
Goalkeeper Kyle Hambleton could not bring it in and Jourdan Brown put it in the net for 1-0.
The Bearkats tried to equalize in the final five minutes, but ran out of time as they suffered their first loss of the season.
Their next game will be on Friday when they host the University of North Texas at 7 p.m.
Bearkats Defeats Panthers 1-0
by Cheval John
In her first collegiate game, freshman midfielder Ashley Alonzo scored the go-ahead, game-winning goal that gave the Sam Houston State Bearkat soccer team a 1-0 victory over the Prarie View A&M Panthers.
“I thought that Prarie View did a great job of making it difficult on us,” head coach Tom Brown said.
“They got a lot of numbers behind the ball.”
The Bearkats had the ball in the Panthers territory for most of the first half, but they could not produce any chances.
They were out shot by the Panthers 5-3.
The second half was a different story when the Bearkats create more chances for themselves.
They shot the ball fifteen times in the half, with the breakthrough coming in the 79th minute when Alonzo made a sweet move past a defender and blasted a shot that went off the post and off goal keeper Bianca Garza into the net that gave the Bearkats a 1-0 lead.
“I saw the near-post wide open and that’s where I shot for,” Alonzo said.
“Luckily, it went in.”
The Panthers shot the ball three times in the second half, they had one last opportunity to equalize in the closing seconds of the match, but came up short in the end.
Though coach Brown wasn’t pleased with the performance, he is satisfied with the result and will use it to make some improvements going into the next match against Texas State on Sunday night.
“It’s a win,” coach Brown said. “I rather not play to my expectations and win than the opposite…We’ll have some things to learn.”
Bearkat Soccer Team Ready For 2012 Season
by Cheval John
After falling short in the semifinals in the Southland Conference Post-Season Tournament last year, the SHSU Bearkat soccer team is looking to make a statement in the 2012 season.
The Bearkats are returning all 11 starters from last year’s team that experienced the heartbreaking loss against Texas State Bobcats in the semifinals that went to a penalty shootout.
“It’s cool to have a whole group of us who stayed together through the last three seasons,” senior midfielder Kirby Zak said to gobearkats.com.
“We’re excited about starting our final season together.”
Zak, along with defender Kayla Anderson and forward Tricia Mallory were selected to the 2012 all-preseason Southland Conference women’s team .
Zak is ranked No. 5 in SHSU career goals (17).
Three of those goals were game-winners, including the one that came against McNeese State last year in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Mallory, a junior from Spring, is ranked No. 2 in SHSU career goals (19).
She led the team last year with 8 goals and was named the team’s “Co-Most Valuable Player.”
On the defensive side, Anderson started all 22 games last year and played a total of 2,051 minutes during her career as a Bearkat.
The Bearkats were picked to finish fourth in the conference by coaches in the league.
But they feel that they can finish higher in the league and make a run toward the SLC Post-Season Tournament.
“In our estimation, based on what have… I think we can finish a bit higher,” head coach Tom Brown said.
The Bearkats first game of the season begins tomorrow at 7 p.m as they play host to Texas Southern.
U.S. Upsets Mexico 1-0
by Cheval John
History was against the United States National Soccer Team going into the friendly against Mexico.
The team has not won a match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City since the first match that was held in 1937.
Mexico was coming off a gold medal win against Brazil at the 2012 London Olympics.
The U.S. was sure to be defeated as they left important players like Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley from this match.
But that was not the case tonight as the United States defeated “El Tri” by the score of 1-0, sending shockwaves throughout the soccer world.
Mexico had the U.S. on their heals for most of the match, but they could not convert on any of their chances.
On the other hand, the U.S took advantage of the opportunity that they were given.
In the 77th minute, Michael Orozco Fiscal scored his first international goal against goalie Guillermo Ochoa after receiving a beautiful back heel pass from Terrence Boyd that made it 1-0.
“El Tri” had their chances to equalize in the closing minutes of the game, thanks in part to Jonathan “El Chicharito” Hernandez.
But the brilliant goalkeeper, Tim Howard made huge saves in the 85th and 89th minute to preserve the upset win over Mexico.
The win will boost the confidence of the team as they will be getting ready for qualifications toward the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“Honey Badger” Cooked At LSU
by Cheval John
It looks like Tyrann Mathieu will not have a chance to return to the LSU football team.
The junior from New Orleans, nicknamed “The Honey Badger,” was kicked off the team last Friday after violating team rules.
He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy race and was a key element in LSU’s run at the national championship last year.
He returned two punts for touchdowns and forced six fumbles that allowed him to score two more touchdowns as a result.
There was speculation that Mathieu could still take classes at the university and possibly be reinstated to the team in 2013.
But Bo Bahnsen, LSU senior associate athletic director for NCAA compliance told USA Today: “He (Mathieu) is permanently ineligible to play football at LSU.”
Mathieu paid a visits to McNeese State University and Jackson State University since being dismissed.
He would not have to sit out a year since both programs are at the FCS level.
He will hold a press conference later today on where he is going to play.