After netting one of 14 shots during regular-time, Sam Houston soccer senior midfielder Mariah Titus made the Kats’ first attempt in overtime count, lifting a ball over the UTSA goalkeeper’s head in the 96th minute for her fifth career match-winning goal, pushing Sam Houston State past the Roadrunners, 2-1, at the Park West Athletics Complex Sunday night.

With the win, Sam Houston opened its season 2-0 for the first time since the program began play in 2003, reversing its fortunes against an identical schedule from a season ago when the Kats dropped matches to Louisiana-Lafayette and UTSA.

The Roadrunners (0-1) were hot early in their 2015 opener, jumping ahead 1-0 as Lauren Hodgdon used a deflection inside the six-yard box in the 12^th minute to put one past Sam Houston keeper Magen Ross.

“I thought we got off to a slow start tonight,” eighth-year head coach Tom Brown said. “We did not deal with their pressure well and made a marking mistake on their goal. After about 30 minutes, I thought we did much better at keeping the ball and creating chances.”

The Bearkats rallied in the 41^st minute when junior Allie Johnson, the team’s leader with eight goals a season ago, lobbed a ball behind the Roadrunners’ defense and to the right of the keeper for the equalizer. The goal was the 10^th of her career while Titus logged her sixth career assist.

Alongside Ross, several Kats earned their first starts of the season including midfielder Bailey Strong, defender Ashley Alonzo and forward Maya Van Londen. In the net, Ross recorded 10 saves, including six in the second half.

Titus, Dick and Johnson each registered three shots while Madison Cannon added two. Dick matched her assist total from a season ago with a pass to Titus for the overtime winner.

UTSA picked up a pair of individual yellow cards while Sam Houston was issued a team yellow card in the 73^rd minute while the match was marred by several second-half penalties.

“Our players had to deal with a lot of late fouls and it made it difficult to build a playing rhythm,” Brown said. “We put a really good combination together going forward and Mariah did a great job of finishing her chance.”

The Bearkats return to action Friday in College Station against Florida Atlantic. The squad’s will square off at 4 p.m. from Texas A&M’s Ellis Field. For the latest on Sam Houston soccer, follow @SHSUSoccer on Twitter and visit GoBearkats.com.

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