ABILENE – Abilene Christian continues its annual rivalry with Dallas Baptist and renews another vs. Our Lady of the Lake this weekend as the Wildcats begin their sixth season of varsity soccer.
The Wildcats first will head to Dallas Thursday for a 6 p.m. match against the Patriots, who they've defeated in five of six meetings, including twice last year in overtime. ACU won the first contest, 2-1, on Opening Day and then edged the Patriots again by the same margin to win the South Central Region Championship.
Dallas Baptist returns eight starters from last year NCAA Tournament match; most notably goalkeeper Kerry Edwards who totaled 21 saves between her two starts against the Wildcats. The Patriots also bring back forwards Courtney Baxter and Danielle Presley, plus two midfielders and three defenders.
ACU counters with eight starters from 2011, including forward
Andrea Carpenter who has scored three times in as many games vs. the Patriots and defender
Lexi Stirling who provided both assists in the 2-1 postseason victory.
Expected to play alongside Stirling on the back line this weekend is first team all-conference honoree
Brie Buschman along with
Stephanie Heron and
Taylor Brown, who are filling in for the injured
Katherine Garner. The redshirt junior is expected back in time for the Lone Star Conference season.
ACU's defense registered a program season record 11 shutouts in 2011 and ranked 22nd nationally in goals-against average (0.64). It also finished year ranked No. 1 in the conference in all four defensive categories: goals allowed (15), GAA (0.64), saves (118) and shutouts (11).
The offense was equally impressive as it averaged better than 2.0 goals per match led by the likes of Carpenter and
Krysta Grimm who exploded for a career season high 26 points on 10 goals and six assists. ACU also expects to receive a lot of production this season from its wingers
Whitley Lindholm and
Ashley Craig who last year combined for seven goals and nine assists. Senior
Julie Coppedge also was dynamic from central midfield in dishing out a team best seven assists.
Our Lady of the Lake is a NAIA school that can't be overlooked. A five-year-old program based in San Antonio, the Saints own an all-time record of 48-19-5 (.701) and have yet to register a losing record. Last year they finished 13-6 overall (8-1 vs. the Red River Conference) and had five players were named to an all-conference team, while head coach Shane Hurley received Coach of the Year honors.
The Saints' 2012 roster includes 12 letterwinners from last year's club, including leading scorer Stephanie Diaz (13 goals) and goalkeepers Alyssa Mora and Emily Backus. Mora was the primary starter in 2011 and saved 71 shots en route to winning 10 matches.
The Wildcats last played Our Lady of the Lake in September of the Saints' inaugural season of 2008 and only won 1-0 despite placing 10 of 18 shots on goal. The lone score came 34 seconds into the contest when Jordan Reese connected with Alyson Thomas.
The Saints officially begin their season Saturday at Lubbock Christian before making their first trip to Abilene Sunday at 3 p.m. In exhibition play earlier this month, Our Lady of the Lake beat Texas Lutheran University 2-0 and tied 3-3 with St. Mary's.
ACU is 4-1 all-time in home and season openers and claims an overall record of 29-11-3 (.709) at the Wildcat Soccer Complex. ACU went 10-1-1 at home in 2011 with its lone defeat coming against Midwestern State during the Lone Star Conference Championship match. The Wildcats haven't lost a regular-season match at home since Sept. 26, 2010 vs. the then-No. 25 Mustangs – a span of 13 matches.
