Box Score NATCHITOCHES – A goal from Lynsey Curry in the 14^th minute gave Texas State the lead and a goal from Michelle Bucy in the 88^th minute added insurance that gave the Bobcats a 3-1 win over the Northwestern State soccer team Friday night in the season opener.
 
Curry put the ball in the net for Texas State (1-0) on a corner kick taken by Tori Hale, the Bobcats' leading point-getter from the 2012 season.  
 
Bucy iced the game with a goal when she grabbed the rebound on a shot from Sydney Curry.  It was the second goal that Texas State scored on a rebound.
 
“We had a lot of chances to win the game,” said George Van Linder, who is in his second season at NSU. “First and foremost, Texas State is a good team, but we had a lot of opportunities that we didn't capitalize on and gave up some soft goals.”
 
The Bobcats struck first in the fifth minute on a rebound goal from Gabbi Cottee.  NSU goalkeeper Brooke Bourbonais made excellent play to get a save on a shot from Hale, but could not hold on to it.
 
“We're just disappointed we gave up two rebounds,” said Van Linder. “[I would] love to get that opportunity back, but we don't get that.  They are a good team, and that was a disappointing loss.”
 
Senior forward Yanci Johnson gave Northwestern State a goal to tie the match at 1-1 in the 14^th minute. 
 
“Yanci always plays very hard and has been doing a lot of good things,” said Van Linder. “The biggest thing about Yanci is her hard work and her effort.
 
“She is constantly putting on pressure and had a lot of good chances, and landed one of those,” he said.
 
Johanna Sigvardsson slipped Johnson a pass from the outside to give Sigvardsson the first assist of her career.
 
Freshman Brooke Eastburg led the Lady Demons in shots with four and one was on-goal.  Ashlee Savona and Chandler Mason also added a shot each, both on-goal.
 
Bourbonais (0-1) got the start in the goal for NSU and played 35 minutes.  She allowed two goals and had one save.  Jessica Danku came in for 55 minutes and allowed a goal and collected six saves.
 
Bobcat keeper Natalie Gardini played the entire match and had four saves.
 
The Lady Demons will travel to Waco, Texas, to take on Baylor.  That match opens a five-game road stretch for Northwestern State.