Sam Houston State soccer had scored four goals in each of its last three games heading into Sunday’s rival match against Stephen F. Austin State.
It seemed ideal that four would the Bearkats’ number to extend their game-winning streak to four.
However, the Lumberjacks snapped the Bearkats’ streak in SHSU’s 2-1 loss in Nacogdoches.
Sophomore forward Allie Johnson was able to find an early goal against SFA to take the quick 1-0 lead for SHSU on an empty net when the SFA’s goalkeeper Morgan Glick left her line to defend. The score extends her goal streak to four games and was Johnson’s fourth goal in the opening eight minutes of a half.
“Scoring early gives you an early boost to push you throughout the entire game,” Johnson said. “As soon we have the lead, we are more calm with ball and play the way we know how to play.”
The Bearkats lost the 1-0 lead in the 25th minute when SFA’s freshman forward Hanna Barker found her sixth goal of the season. Barker finished a shot between junior goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton’s legs right at the goal line.
SHSU was only limited to four shots the entire match. Glick only had to make two saves in match, both in the second half.
SFA on the other hand ripped 14 shots and caused Hambleton to make four saves on the day.
The Lumberjacks were able to pull away with the win in the 74th minute from the head of Amanda Doyle off a cross from Megan Dunnigan.
SHSU dropped to fifth in the Southland Conference standings with the loss while SFA remains the only undefeated team in conference play.
The Bearkats will head to Beaumont this Friday to take on Lamar.
“I have set myself responsible to score a goal this game, and I’m looking forward to doing that this weekend,” Johnson said. “As a team, [SFA] was a game we should have won, but we just have to take that anger out on Lamar and add another win to our record.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.