Women's Soccer | 9/25/2014 3:07:00 PM
Live Stats vs. Nicholls | Live Video vs. Nicholls
Live Stats vs. Southeastern Louisiana
ABILENE - Abilene Christian soccer will play four of its next five matches at home beginning with this weekend's matches at Shotwell Stadium vs. the preeminent Southland Conference programs from Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana.
The Wildcats kick off Friday at noon vs. the Colonels in a match that will be broadcast live by
Grant Boone and
Juan Nunez via the
Game Central links on ACUSports.com. ACU will then face the first-place Lions Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Admission is free for both contests and each offers live stats.
The Wildcats went 1-1 vs. these teams last season as they followed a 3-1 loss at Nicholls and the league's leading scorer Spencer Valdespino with a 1-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana and its all-conference goalkeeper Hope Sabadash.
A sophomore, Sabadash has her Lions - last year's NCAA qualifier from the Southland - sitting atop the league standings at 9-1 overall and 2-0 vs. the conference. Southeastern Louisiana suffered its lone loss on Sept. 12 at Memphis, but have since won three straight over Mississippi Valley State (W, 9-0), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (W, 3-1) and McNeese State (W, 1-0).
Sabadash, who has been the recipient of 3.8 goals per match, is first in the Southland with an 0.54 goals against average, .891 save percentage and five shutouts. She also ranks fourth in saves with 41.
Leading the Lions' offense is Bri Singh who is tops in the league in shots (30), points (23) and goals (10). Additionally, four of her teammates rank among the conference's top-10 leaders in assists: Katie Noonan (9), Maggie Ramsey (5), Gisenia Utreras (4) and Chelsea Villaescusa (3).
Nicholls has won three of its last four to move a game above .500 at 5-4 and last Sunday the Colonels were victorious in their conference opener against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 1-0.
Nicholls is currently the No. 2 ranked offense in the Southland behind Southeastern La., averaging 14.89 shots, 6.56 points and 2.44 goals per game. Valdespino, who won conference Player of the Year honors last year as a sophomore, continues to pace Nicholls offense with 11 points on five goals and one assist.
A majority of the Colonels' assists have come from Emily Werenskiold and Jess Coates, who are tied for fifth in the conference with three apiece.
Nicholls is led in goal by Taylor Mosley, who ranks 10th in both GAA (2.02) and save percentage (.727), is third with 42 saves, and fifth with two shutouts.
Abilene Christian split its first Southland Conference weekend at Sam Houston State and Houston Baptist. The Wildcats opened with an exciting 3-2 win over the Bearkats, but fell in overtime at HBU, 1-0, on a penalty kick.
ACU (4-6, 1-1 Southland) ranks near the middle in most stat categories with the exception of saves, in which the Wildcats are first with 67 and 6.70 per match. Lamar is the next closest team with 49 and 6.12 per match.
Wildcat goalkeepers
Sydney Newton and
Kelsey Dombrowski are ranked together in all conference stat categories, however, Dombrowski holds a slight edge over her teammate in GAA (1.40 to 1.52), save percentage (.838 to .795), and saves per game (6.20 to 5.83).
Newton has the team's lone shutout vs. Wayland Baptist on Aug. 29
Offensively, freshman
Baylee Mitchell is tied for fourth in the league with four goals, while sophomore
Natalie Throneberry's three assists have her tied for fifth. Three of Mitchell's five goals have served as game-winners.
