HUNTSVILLE, Texas - A two-goal lead as the most dangerous in soccer has become quite the broadcasting cliché but that was nearly the case for Abilene Christian Friday night as the Wildcats withstood several dangerous chances over the final 15 minutes to defeat the Sam Houston State Bearkats, 3-2, at Pritchett Field.
Freshman
Baylee Mitchell's fifth goal of the season in the 76th minute gave the Wildcats a 3-1 lead and proved to be the game-winner even though Shelby McDaniel would bring her side one point closer a mere six minutes later.
Following McDaniel's brilliant solo effort, which was her fourth goal of the season and second of the match, the Bearkats launched two corner kicks, had a shot saved and another sail wide during the final 7:15. SHSU couldn't get a shot off its first corner at the 85-minute mark, but 80 seconds later ACU goalkeeper
Kelsey Dombrowski made one of her biggest stops of the night in saving an attempt off the foot of Madison Bible..
McDaniel in the final minute recorded her team's fifth corner and third of the half, but the follow-up header by Caitlyn Schwartz was off target and the Wildcats went on to run out the clock.
ACU started the match in a 1-0 hole after McDaniel headed her team's first shot in the 17th minute past Dombrowski off an assist from Maddie Gangi. But because the Wildcats missed a couple of great chances early from
Taylor Brown in the fourth minute and
Lindsey Jones in the 12th, ACU eighth-year head coach
Casey Wilson believed those golden opportunities would keep presenting themselves and allow the Wildcats to come back.
And rally did the Wildcats behind three consecutive beautiful and well-earned goals.
"Tiffany (Ysassi) got free on the left side of the 18-yard box and drove in the ball," said Wilson. "Natalie (Throneberry) took the next one wide left hitting
Chloe Fifer in stride for the second goal, and Baylee (Mitchell) finished the third one dribbling across the 18 about 22 yards out to the near post."
Fifer's goal was the first of her collegiate career and came in the 49th minute. Ysassi's equalizer, meanwhile, was her second score of this season and came off an assist by
Chantal Kinsey in the 25th minute.
Led by McDaniel's four shots, SHSU outshot the Wildcats, 15-11, and had five corner kicks to two for the Wildcats. But Dombrowski proved to be too tough in goal, finishing with seven saves in improving to 2-1 on the season.
Bearkat goalkeeper Magen Ross (1-1) stopped only one of the 11 shots she faced and allowed all three goals..
"We still need work in some areas for sure," Wilson said, "but the fight was there tonight and we were able to accomplish some personal feats that we've been striving for all year up to this point."
Tonight's match was the Southland Conference lid-lifter for both schools. ACU improved to 4-5 (1-0 SLC) with the victory and the Bearkats dropped to 1-7 (0-1) after losing their second one-goal decision to the Wildcats in as many years.
ACU won its first-ever meeting vs. SHSU, 2-1, last fall at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch.
The Wildcats will look to even their record at 5-5 Sunday at Houston Baptist at 1 p.m. Due to the rain in the Houston area the last two days and threat of rain for the weekend, the match will be played at Awty International School located at 7455 Awty School Lane.
