SAN MARCOS, Texas — Central Arkansas played even with two-time reigning Southland Conference champion Texas State for 77 minutes, but a goal from Serena Hines in the 78th minute proved to be too much for the Bears as the Bobcats held on for a 1-0 victory on Friday.

The Bobcats (7-5, 1-1 Southland), the preseason pick to win the league once again, got the lone score of the contest when Hines struck from 20 yards out – putting the ball over the head of UCA goalkeeper Kelsey Gochnauer – and kept the Bears (4-6-2, 0-2-1) off the board to secure their third straight win in the series.

UCA – missing injured seniors Randi Condley (16 points last season) and Brittney Warren (four) – struggled to mount an attack against the league's top team, registering just one shot attempt for the game.

Texas State peppered UCA with 14 shot attempts, with 10 coming on goal. Gochnauer tied her season high by recording nine saves for the second consecutive game.

It was the fifth shutout of the season for the Bobcats, who have not surrendered a goal to the Bears since losing 1-0 in Conway in 2007. Texas State won 7-0 in 2008 in the last meeting in San Marcos and won 2-0 in Conway last season.

The Bears will travel to San Antonio on Sunday to take on UTSA – which defeated Texas State 1-0 last weekend and beat Northwestern State 2-1 in overtime on Friday.