COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Junior goalkeeper
Kelsey Dombrowski made eight saves in pitching the fifth shutout of her career Sunday to help Abilene Christian exit Texas A&M's Ellis Field with a scoreless draw against UC Irvine of the Big West Conference.
The 0-0 match was only the fifth in program history and first since a Oct. 25, 2009 contest at 19th-ranked West Texas A&M.
Dombrowski's eight saves were her most since stopping 10 in an overtime loss last fall at Houston Baptist. She faced 19 shots vs. both the Huskies and Anteaters, with two today coming in overtime and three each in the first and second half.
"Kelsey played great today," said head coach
Casey Wilson. "She made a key save in the first half on a lofted ball she got a hand on that hit the crossbar, and in the second half she took the ball of their attacker's foot on a breakaway. She was very consistent throughout the game, making big saves and keeping the back line composed. We're all very pleased with her play. She kept us in the match."
By comparison, Irvine's Corey Tobin saved four on nine shots faced. ACU fired only two shots (and had two corner kicks) during the first overtime session but neither was on frame. UCI placed two of its three overtime shots on goal to finish with a 19-9 shot advantage.
Senior
Lindsey Jones and sophomore
Baylee Mitchell again led the Wildcats with two shots and each had an attempt saved by Tobin. Freshman
Chelsea Reedy also was denied by Tobin in the 30th minute as was rookie Sophie Standfier early in the second half.
Jones' shot on goal came in the 55th minute and Mitchell's in the 67th.
Mitchell's shot would be ACU's last until the 98th minute when
Alyssa Gerner had her try blocked by an Anteater defender. One minute later Jones watched her second shot of the afternoon sail wide left.
In the final minute of the first overtime, Dombrowski saved a Lili Andrino shot and then watched her defense clear out one of six UCI corner kicks.
Irvine (1-2-1) had two shots in the second OT, but Dombrowski stopped Brittany Nguyen's attempt in the 105th and with only two seconds remaining Kiana Palacios' header went above the crossbar.
Palacios led all players today with five shots and placed two on goal.
"UCI was a very good team," Wilson added. "Both teams had chances throughout the game, and we liked the way we competed and fought against them. This weekend (which also included a 5-3 win vs. UTSA) was good for us and we got to see a lot of players step in and help us throughout each contest."
The Wildcats return to Ellis Field a week from today to battle the fifth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies in a match that will be televised on SEC Network +. But before its return to Aggieland, ACU will first play host to North Texas in the first-ever regular season soccer match played at Elmer Gray Stadium.
Kick off is Friday at 7 p.m. as part of College Colors Day and admission for this first match is free.
