LAKE CHARLES, La. - Abilene Christian head coach and program architect
Casey Wilson won his 100th career match Sunday as the Wildcats held on to defeat McNeese State, 3-2, in double overtime on a game-winning penalty kick by junior
Maria Gomez.
Gomez' goal was her third in the last four matches with the PK awarded after a McNeese player was called for a flagrant handball in the goalbox.
The win not only was a milestone victory for the only head coach in ACU's nine-year history, but it also served as the club's fifth-consecutive triumph to even its season record at 7-7-2. The Wildcats today additionally clinched their third consecutive winning season against the Southland Conference at 6-1-1 with three matches left on the schedule.
The first of those matches takes place Friday at 7 p.m. at Elmer Gray Stadium, where the Wildcats will play host to Stephen F. Austin (7-6-2, 6-0-2) for a shot at first place. ACU will then welcome Sam Houston State Sunday at 1 p.m. and concludes its fall season Friday, Oct. 30 vs. its old rivals from Incarnate Word.
Prior to today ACU had never defeated McNeese let alone score a goal against the Cowgirls, who shut out the Wildcats, 1-0, the previous two seasons. Thankfully, though, the Wildcats broke their scoreless streak 20 minutes into the match when
Sophie Standifer punched back a
Dylan Owens' deflection for her team-leading fifth goal of the season, and very late in the second half Owens provided an insurance goal midway through the 86th minute to make it a 2-0 game.
By all rights, this match should have never seen overtime, but the Cowgirls continued to keep their foot on the gas and cut their deficit in half on a Gabi D'Alesandro strike in the 88th minute. And with only five seconds left in regulation, Sara Ortiz tied the score after winning a one-on-one battle vs. ACU goalkeeper
Sydney Newton.
The Ortiz goal came a mere 18 seconds after a
Nicci Nelson shot was rejected by the crossbar.
"This was a key win," said head coach
Casey Wilson. "We really played well throughout regulation but the better of the play was in the first half ... and at the end we had a couple breakdowns because of decisions we had not been making earlier."
The two sides combined for three shots in the first overtime. McNeese missed its first attempt wide and then ACU's
Peyton Bucklew had her shot intercepted by Cowgirl GK Maggie Marks. Gomez fired a shot that sailed high in the 96th minute and afterward there wasn't another attempt taken until her PK, which came in the 102nd minute.
The win was ACU's first in double overtime since 2013 when they beat Drury on the road, 2-1, which was part of a six-match winning streak.
"Maria just grabbed the ball and put it in," said Wilson of the overtime PK. "Overall we had a lot of chances (25 shots) and quite a few corners (10) today, and when you get enough of them then you're going to score ...
Kelsie Roberts played a dangerous direct kick resulting in an opportunity for Sophie to score. Dylan then capitalized on an opening within their defense to finish a cross from Maria (Gomez).
ACU outshot the Cowgirls 13-2 in the first half with six corner kicks, but the second half was much more even as each squad finished with nine shots. The Wildcats also had four corners in the second half, while McNeese had three.
Standifer led all players with six shots. Gomez and
Lindsey Jones tied for second with four apiece.
In goal, Newton made two saves in the complete-game effort to raise her record to 6-3-1. The loss was given to Marks (3-3), who only played the 11:47 of overtime.
Lauren Sestak started for McNeese and made six saves through 90 minutes of regulation.
