Box Score
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Freshman forward
Natalie Throneberry buried a 20-yard free kick in the 63rd minute, lifting the Abilene Christian soccer team to a 1-0 triumph at Northwestern State Friday night.
With the victory, ACU improved to 11-2-1 on the season and 5-2 vs. the Southland Conference, while Northwestern State fell to 4-8-1 and 2-3-1.
Throneberry's goal was her fifth of the season and team-leading fourth game-winner and came right after Northwestern State defender Jackie Strug was issued a yellow card. The Lady Demons' Chelsea Schaefer also was carded in the 75th minute as the home team collected 11 fouls, to five for ACU.
"It was a good team win overall ... Northwestern was a good team and played us tough tonight," said ACU head coach
Casey Wilson, "but I thought we played much better than last Sunday with less unforced errors.
"Nat's direct kick was nice. She had a lot of chances and got one which she deserved. We had good chances to scored throughout the match and had a couple of very close calls."
Credit for the shutout - ACU's seventh of the year - once again went to freshman
Kelsey Dombrowski, who saved eight of 10 shots faced. She has two shutouts since taking over the starting role two weeks ago and four combined efforts this fall with classmate
Sydney Newton.
The Lady Demons' attempted only three shots after the Wildcats' took their lead, but two had to be saved by Dombrowski. Ashlee Savona had her shot stopped in the 75th minute, and then in the final minute, Dombrowski saved a shot by Nikki Saunders and watched another by Julia Ranalli sail wide following an ACU foul.
The Wildcats took 17 shots, including 10 in the first half, and were led by senior
Andrea Carpenter's four. Throneberry took three attempts, while three others had two, including
Nicci Nelson who had one of hers ricochet off the post. Lady Demon Jessica Danku finished with seven saves in the losing effort.
The Wildcats return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. vs. Stephen F. Austin.
