ABILENE - Senior defender
Lexi Stirling's free kick in the 89th minute gave seventh-ranked Abilene Christian a 1-0 win over NAIA opponent Our Lady of the Lake Sunday afternoon at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch.
ACU evened its record at 1-1 on the young season with the victory, while the Saints remain winless at 0-2.
Despite earning their first win of the year, the Wildcats were frustrated throughout the contest. The home team fired 28 shots overall against none for the visitors, but time and time again ACU saw its countless shots and corner kicks either blocked or saved by goalkeeper Alyssa Mora, who finished the match with 12.
“Their keeper did an excellent job,” head coach
Casey Wilson said,” and their defense packed in it from start to finish. They did not play direct, but rather anticipated a counter attack, which was quite similar to what we had to play against last year.
“Some days like this one it takes 25 shots and 15 opportunities before you finally score, but the more chances you give yourself the better off you are. We just have to keep learning one game at a time and remember to take advantage of the opportunities.”
ACU finally received the one break it so richly deserved during the match's final two minutes right after the Saints cleared out their seventh corner of the second half.
After the kick cleared the box, Stirling chased it down close to the near corner and was quickly side tackled from behind. The illegal hit drew the referee's whistle and Stirling was awarded the free kick.
Her kick, taken from about 10 yards away from the sideline, sailed upward and then hooked in as it approached the far corner.
"I honestly wasn't trying to score," she said. "I just wanted to get it in the box, but I got a little spin on the ball and it went in. It was hard to score on them today, but I guess we were lucky to get the free kick and finish it.”
The Saints received their best look of the match during the final 10 seconds after Stephania Vazquez looped in a cross that bounced over the head of one of the ACU defenders. The ball then landed at the feet of Teegen Luckenmeyer, who took it straight ahead before being derailed at the top of the goal box by
Arielle Moncure and Stirling.
It was Moncure's first touch of the second half, and second of the match.
“I'm glad Ari was on her toes in that situation, because I don't think she had to touch the ball all game” Stirling joked, adding, “I thought we possessed the ball well throughout and created a ton of chances. We went from about two Thursday vs. Dallas Baptist to 25 today, which was good to see, because if we create enough shots then they'll go in sooner or later.”
The Wildcats also dominated time of possession in the first half but had little to show for their efforts other than a few close calls within the goalmouth. ACU launched 11 shots, placing seven on goal, but not were able to slip anything past Mora.
Julie Coppedge came close to scoring in the 33rd minute with a left-footed shot. But Mora slapped it down and then had one of her defenders clear it to midfield. Then with about 30 seconds remaining
Megan Turner smoked a shot that connected with the center of the crossbar.
Coppedge and
Krysta Grimm led all players with six shots.
ACU returns to action next weekend Friday and Sunday with matches in Joplin, Mo., vs. Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Southern.
Our Lady of the Lake (0-2) vs. Abilene Christian (1-1)
Date: Sep 02, 2012 Attendance: 300
Weather: 94, Sunny
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Our Lady of the Lake 0 0 - 0
Abilene Christian... 0 1 - 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 88:10 ACU
Lexi Stirling (1) (unassisted) - off free kick from deep left side, hooked into far corner
Shots: Our Lady of the Lake 0, Abilene Christian 28
Saves: Our Lady of the Lake 12 (Alyssa Mora 12), Abilene Christian 0
