CORPUS CHRISTI – There was a lot of “unknown” as Tarleton State Soccer entered 2026 with a brand new coaching staff and limited returning production. But the Texans shed off any qualms early with a pair of goals within the first 20 minutes, leading to a season-opening draw.
Tarleton State (0-0-1) battled Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (0-0-1) to a 2-2 draw at Dr. Jack Dugan Soccer and Track & Field Stadium in Corpus Christi on Wednesday night. This marked the fourth time in five playing seasons for the Texans they have opened the season on the road, and they remained undefeated in such matches, now 1-0-3. This was also the fourth matchup in series history, and the teams remained even at 1-1-2.
Tarleton State head coach Erik Solberg led his first match in the Purple and White against the Islanders on the opening night for all of Tarleton State Athletics in 2026-27. It took just seven minutes for the Texans to jump out to a lead, with newcomer Zahra Friess finishing a nice feed, and assist, by returner Jessica Baires inside the right post. It was the quickest goal to start a season for Tarleton State in program history, and the Texans’ two goals on the match marked a new program-best for a season-opener, as well.
Returner Grace Berry scored Tarleton State’s second goal to give them a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute, firing a loose ball into the top left of the net. This was Berry’s first goal for Tarleton State, now in her second season.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi cut its deficit in half with a deep shot by Dakota Merino in the 36th minute, making it 2-1 Tarleton State. The Islanders tied the contest in the 61st minute on a Kate Porter goal, assist to Natalie Taylor. Both teams had decent chances late, but the match in front of a 205-person opening-night crowd ended in a draw.
Tarleton State’s longest tenured player, Rylie Bloomfield, started at goalkeeper. The fifth-year student-athlete earned a save in the third minute, as she played the entire first half. Senior Emma Barnes, now in her fourth season at Tarleton State, played the entire second half, recording six saves, her most since Sept. 25, 2025, at Utah Valley (seven).
Tarleton State largely commanded possession in the first half, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi flipped the script in the second. Overall, the Islanders had a 13-12 shot advantage and a 9-6 shots on goal advantage. Tarleton State outshot Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 9-4 in the first half with a 6-2 SOG mark. Friess led the Texans in shots with four, with Berry and Adelaide Wyrzynski each at three, all of Wyrzynski’s on goal.
The Texans started Baires, Zoe Ballard, Isa Bergeron-Prejean, Berry, Bloomfield, Peyton Bryant, Sam Cortez, Ava D’Costa, Friess, Victoria Lucksinger and Wyrzynski to begin the season. Bergeron-Prejean, Bryant, Friess and Lucksinger each played the entire match. Barnes, DawnJay Beal, Zoe Daly, Naomi Langille, Avery Mendez and Bailey Pottratz each played as subs.
The Texans will have just over a week before their next competitive action, a home match against UTEP on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Tarleton State Soccer Complex in Stephenville, Texas. It will be a Back 2 School Bash at the pitch, as the Texans will give away free food to first arriving fans, with a DJ and tailgate games in the parking lot.
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