Women's Soccer | 10/2/2014 11:55:00 AM
Live Stats vs. Central Arkansas | Live Video vs. Central Arkansas
ABILENE - Abilene Christian soccer moved into a tie for first place in the Southland Conference last weekend with wins over Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana, but will be challenged to stay there when it visits Central Arkansas for a 7 p.m. match Friday.
Fans can follow the match via live stats and video links provided by UCASports.com.
The Wildcats enter the weekend at 6-6 overall at 3-1 vs. the conference, tied with Southeastern Louisiana for first place, following last weekend's wins at Shotwell Stadium vs. the Colonels (W, 3-0) and Lions (W, 2-1).
ACU dominated Nicholls on both ends of the field, in limiting the Colonels' offense to only eight shots and zero corner kick opportunities. Offensively,
Baylee Mitchell scored her first of two weekend goals in the 27th minute vs. the Colonels. And after the break,
Lindsey Jones scorched a free kick past goalkeeper Josie Styles in the 60th minute and assisted on
Maria Gomez' first career goal in the 82nd minute.
The Wildcats were in an early 1-0 hole to the Lions - the highest scoring team in the conference - but Mitchell scored an amazing equalizer in the 33rd minute, and then defender
Alyssa Gerner netted the game-winner in the 70th, blooping an arc over the head of Lions' netminder Casey Jeanfreau.
With three points and a shutout last weekend, Gerner earned the first Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor of her career. Mitchell, meanwhile, who leads the Wildcats with seven goals this fall, received honorable mention from the conference voters.
Central Arkansas comes into Friday's match at 5-4-1 overall and 1-1 vs. the league after following a 2-0 loss on the road in Corpus Christi with a 2-0 win at home vs. Northwestern State.
The Bears are currently the No. 5 scoring team in the Southland with 2.10 goals per match led by Shelby Wilson's 10 points and Allie Coleman's eight. Additionally, Cassie Lange is among the league leaders with four assists.
Defensively, UCA is sixth in goals-against average at 1.57 and has pitched three shutouts to go along with 53 saves. Anna Hughes has played 875 out of 920 minutes, stopped 49 shots and has two complete-game shutouts.
ACU is ranked in the middle of the conference in most offensive categories, but is first with 77 saves and fourth with a 1.31 GAA. Individually, sophomores
Sydney Newton (42 saves) and
Kelsey Dombrowski (34 saves) are fourth and fifth in GAA with 1.30 and 1.33.
Mitchell is fourth in the league with 14 points and tied for second with two others with seven goals; however, SLU's Bri Singh is way out in front with 11 goals.
Natalie Throneberry and
Chloe Fifer are tied for eighth with three assists each.
The Bears will play host to Incarnate Word Sunday at 1 p.m., while the Wildcats will have an off day.
