CANYON, Texas - ACU's run as a successful NCAA D-II program reached an early end Thursday afternoon at the Buffalo Sports Park, where fourth-seed Midwestern State edged the Wildcats, 1-0, in the first-round of the Lone Star Conference Championship.
Payton Fookes scored the game's lone goal in the 58th minute after heading in a cross from Maddie Fraser. Fookes' goal was her fifth of the year and sent the Mustangs (7-9-3) into Friday's semifinal vs. top-seed and host West Texas A&M.
Third-seed Angelo State will face second-seed Incarnate Word in the other semifinal.
With the loss, ACU sees its 2012 end at 8-10-1, which is its first losing season since its inaugural campaign of 2007 (8-11-1). In between, however, the Wildcats were one of the LSC's most decorated programs, winning one conference regular season (2011) and tournament championship (2010), as well as the 2011 NCAA D-II South Central Regional title over Dallas Baptist.
As a six-year member of D-II and the Lone Star Conference, the Wildcats produced an overall win-loss record of 72-41-8 (.628) and regular-season conference mark of 41-22-6 (.637). ACU also posted .500 or better records against every conference team with the exception of MSU (5-7-1) and WT (3-4-1).
Coppedge appeared in all of ACU's 82 matches since her freshman year of 2009, scoring 43 points on 15 goals and 17 assists. Wednesday she was named to her fourth all-conference team and third all-academic team.
A Wildcat starter the last two years, Grimm contributed 47 points on 18 goals and 11 assists though her 73 career appearances.
Stirling has been a defensive anchor the last several seasons, and during her tenure she's made three all-conference teams in addition to the 2011 NSCAA all-region squad.
Heron and Moncure worked their way into the starting lineup for the first time in 2012. Heron appeared in 21 matches with one start a year ago - her first as a Wildcat - but started 17 of 19 this season and helped the defense limit opponents to 1.11 goals and 11.3 shots allowed per match.
Moncure pitched six shutouts in her first full season as ACU's starting goalkeeper to go along with a 1.09 goals-against average and 78 saves.
Moncure made three saves in today's losing effort even as ACU out-shot the Mustangs, 12-10. ACU's
Andrea Carpenter and Coppedge led all players with four shots, and combined to place five on goal, but MSU goalkeeper Mallory Whitworth stopped them all plus one more to finish with six saves.
