ABILENE - Senior midfielder
Julie Coppedge's shot from 18-yards back at the start of the 86th minute gave Abilene Christian a much-needed 1-0 victory over first-place Incarnate Word Sunday afternoon at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch.
The goal was Coppedge's team-leading fourth of the season and lifted ACU's overall and conference records to 5-9-1 and 3-7-1, while the Cardinals dropped to 7-6 overall and out of a first-place tie with West Texas A&M (7-3). The Wildcats still remain in last place with 10 points, but closed within two points of the final Lone Star Conference tournament spot with three matches left to play.
ACU dominated all phases of its victory over UIW and ended up with a 14-8 advantage in shots and 6-0 in corner kicks. And it was off that last corner kick opportunity, the Wildcats finally connected with the back of the net.
The corner kick, taken by
Ashley Craig, deflected off a few bodies before it was played back to the top of the 18-yard line, where Coppedge first shook off a defender before sending a blast high above the defense and past the outreached arm of goalkeeper Karly Brightwell.
"Julie fired about three of those same kind of shots Friday vs. Angelo State, but this one was on frame all the way - it was a great shot," head coach
Casey Wilson said. "Overall, I felt this was one of the best games we've played all year, with the biggest difference being that we finished one of our chances."
ACU's defense allowed just three shots during the second half. The Cardinals took two during the first five minutes, and then none afterward until Amber Guenther bounced one to
Arielle Moncure in the 88th minute. Moncure made five saves in recording her fourth shutout of the season.
Guenther and ACU's
Whitley Lindholm led all players with three shots each, and Brightwell finished the match with six saves.
The Wildcats return to action next Friday and Sunday with matches vs. Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas Woman's.
