Box Score
ABILENE – The No. 21 Abilene Christian women's soccer team improved to 2-0 on the young season following a 4-0 victory over Texas A&M-International Sunday afternoon at the Wildcat Soccer Complex. Junior
Krysta Grimm accounted for half her team's goals as ACU scored four times over the final 45:39.
Sophomore
Andrea Carpenter and freshman
Sarah Schoch also scored as the Wildcats outshot the Dustdevils 20-4, including 14-1 in the second half.
Senior
Lyndsey Womack provided two assists, while Carpenter and junior
Julie Coppedge each contributed one. Grimm, Carpenter and Coppedge also shared the lead with six shots apiece, and the team placed 50 percent of its shots on goal against TAMI goalkeeper Noemi Salazar (six saves).
ACU placed three shots on goal in the first half but didn't rattle the cage until 39 seconds remaining when Womack popped a pass forward to Grimm, who then ran toward the middle a few paces before booting a sharp diagonal into the lower right corner.
Head coach
Casey Wilson said it was great for his team to get that boost going into halftime.
“For as many opportunities that we had and as well as we played in the first half, everyone was hoping we'd come into the locker room with at least one goal,” the fifth-year head coach said. “It was nice that we fought all the way down until forty seconds to go and put that goal in.”
Grimm struck again to put ACU ahead 2-0 less than 10 minutes out of the break, collecting an assist from Carpenter, whose follow-up goal in the 67th minute put the game out of reach. Carpenter was fed the ball by Coppedge inside the six-yard box and needed two hacks to get the ball over the stripe.
Carpenter's three-point effort Sunday lifted her career total to 51.
“I honestly didn't think my goal was going to go in, but it squeaked past,” she said. “I mean, a goal's a goal, so I'm pleased.”
Schoch capped ACU's offensive exploits with a header off Womack's free kick in the 71st minute, and for the Amarillo native, the feeling of scoring her first career goal was nothing short of awesome.
“I feel as if there's a weight lifted off of me since I'm a freshman and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to contribute to this game,” she said. “That was the perfect ball from Lindsay and when it was right over me, I was like, 'I gotta jump.' I then realized I scored and was so excited. It was definitely instinct. Playing today was an awesome opportunity that I wasn't really expecting coming into the game.”
“It's exciting for Sarah to get the confidence she needs to play on the field,” added Wilson. “She set an example for all of the freshmen and provided a spark for our whole team today. I'm very proud of her and glad she scored her first college goal today.”
But as the game wore on and ACU continued to increase its lead, the contest became more physical with both clubs combining for 11 second-half fouls and three yellow cards, all of which were handed out in the final 10 minutes.
Wildcat
Megan Turner and Dustdevil Alejandra Cabrera received simultaneous cautions in the 83rd minute, and six minutes later TAMI's Lisette Gill picked up her team's second of the day and fourth of the year.
“This was definitely a battle and I think we handled their physical nature really well,” Carpenter said. “We didn't really let the physical aspect pose much of a problem against us and how we played. We kept our cool on the field, and I think that played to our advantage.”
Although the Dustdevils were limited to four shots for the game, they continually presented a scoring threat throughout the second half by receiving an equal number of corner kicks. The Wildcat defense, however, remained firm in clearing out all of International's attempts and was credited with a team save after
Arielle Moncure found herself out of position on a Jessica Salas attempt in the 61st minute.
Moncure started the second half and played 30 minutes before being followed by freshman Olivia Englesman - one of eight substitutes utilized by Wilson.
Elliott London started in goal and made one save through the first 45 minutes, which was enough to earn her victory No. 1 on the season.
“It was a good team win overall,” said Wilson. “Our defense held well and I was very pleased with the effort put forth today and the results that came from that … it's also important to be able to substitute throughout the game, and our depth allows us the chance to do that. The last fifteen-plus minutes, we were able to see some of our other players get in there and show us what they can do, and that's always important for us to be able to see that. That was a positive thing we got to witness today.”
ACU returns to action Wednesday afternoon for a 2 p.m. match at Central Oklahoma. It is the first of two consecutive road games for the Wildcats who were 11-1 away from home in 2010. ACU will then face Truman State a week from Sunday in San Antonio as part of the Incarnate Word Invitational. Kick off is set for 11 a.m.
Carpenter is excited to jump right into both games as the Wildcats look to match last year's 4-0 start.
“I think today's game will definitely help us excel into both games this week because we're feeling good after this win and hope to continue grasping this feeling,” she said. “This game's result will help us get excited about steeping onto the field in Oklahoma Wednesday and in San Antonio this weekend.”
Additional reporting provided by Bryson Shake.
A&M International vs #21 Abilene Christian (Sep 04, 2011 at Abilene, Texas)
A&M International (0-2) vs. Abilene Christian (2-0)
Date: Sep 04, 2011 Attendance: 100
Weather: 82, mostly cloudy/windy Winds N at 20 to 25mph
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
A&M International... 0 0 - 0
Abilene Christian... 1 3 - 4
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 44:21 ACU
Krysta Grimm (1) (
Lyndsey Womack) - from far side into lower right corner on ground
2. 54:36 ACU
Krysta Grimm (2) (
Andrea Carpenter) - from in front of net , right side, after getting cross from #2
3. 66:35 ACU
Andrea Carpenter (2) (
Julie Coppedge) - takes ball in goal mouth from #5, drives in off deflection
4. 70:23 ACU
Sarah Schoch (1) (
Lyndsey Womack) - headed off free kick inside 6-yard box
Shots: A&M International 4, Abilene Christian 20
Saves: A&M International 6 (Noemi Salazar 6), Abilene Christian 2
(
Elliott London 1; TEAM 1)
