Nov. 2, 2007

Box Score

SAN MARCOS, Texas-- McNeese State's soccer team moved one step closer to claiming its first ever Southland Conference regular season title here Friday night with a 3-0 shutout victory over Texas State to improve to 10-4-4 overall and 6-1-1 in league play. The victory ties a school record set by the Cowgirls last season when they posted a 10-7-2 overall record. The shutout is also a school record breaking the old record of eight set last season.

Reserve goalie Labrie Pritzen picked up two saves in the school record ninth shutout

"Goalies Shelby Money and Labrie Pritzen both helped us set this school record." Money played 78 minutes and was credited with five saves and Pritzen picked up two saves in 11 minutes played.

"These two ladies train very hard every day in practice and our team is really seeing the rewards and benefits from their work, we could not be more proud of their play," said head coach Scooter Savoie.

With the victory, the Cowgirls head to San Antonio to face Texas-San Antonio at 1 p.m. in the final regular season game. McNeese State, Texa-San Antonio and Stephen F. Austin all head into Sunday's games in a three-way first place tie with 19 points apiece. Texas-San Antonio defeated Lamar 2-0 and Stephen F. Austin defeated Southeastern 2-1 in double overtime Friday night.

"We still have a three-way tie for first place heading into the last conference game of the season as Stephen F. Austin defeated Southeastern La. and Texas-San Antonio defeated Lamar. This is some exciting stuff and we are very happy as a team to be in this position. Our seniors have worked four years to put themselves in this spot and we would like to see them have the opportunity to finish the job. It all comes down to Sunday."

A victory by the Cowgirls on Sunday would give them the outright title no matter the outcome of SFA's game against Nicholls State since McNeese holds the tie-breaker over SFA due to its 1-0 victory over the Lumberjacks on Oct. 26.

"We had a great win tonight that puts us in the championship game with Texas-San Antonio. What I really like most about the win is we played some very good soccer. The way we won should give us a tremendous amount of momentum going into what promises to be a very tough and exciting game Sunday."

McNeese held a 1-0 halftime lead on Kamryn Koch's 13th goal of the season in the 17th minute on a cross from Sara Overfelt.

"Shelby had a tremendous save to stop Texas State on a break away about 25 minutes into the first half. That save was key to us holding our 1-0 lead. At the half we talked about how we wanted to increase the pace in the second half to make sure we were able to finish the game."

Overfelt added a Cowgirl goal, her fourth on the season in the 51st minute to give McNeese a 2-0 lead when her shot hit the post and bounced into the net. Freshman Alana Clark concluded the Cowgirl scoring in the 71st minute on a Mayra Torres assists.

"Sara hit a strike from about 25 yards out for her goal and Alana shot from almost the same spot for our third goal that put the game away."