AUSTIN, Texas - Abilene Christian soccer closed out its ultra-tough non-conference schedule Sunday with a hard-fought 2-1 loss to Texas at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Junior goalkeeper
Sydney Newton once again was simply sensational in net, making 11 saves, but had to leave the Longhorn Network-televised match early after colliding with the post.
Newton was injured trying to keep the match scoreless at the start of the 70th minute when Lindsey Meyer headed in a Julia Dyche free kick from about seven-yards away. The goal was Meyer's second of the season.
Thankfully for the Wildcats, Newton was smiling as she left the pitch on her own strength and hopefully she'll be ready to go for Friday's home Southland Conference opener against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi after getting stitched up.
But with junior goalkeeper
Kelsey Dombrowski also on the bench with an injury that's kept her out of the past three matches, the Wildcats had to turn to freshman
Madeline Grimes who was immediately tested in her collegiate debut as she surrendered the game-winning goal 1:39 after entering.
UT's second strike was set up by Kelsey Shimmick who shook off a pair of Wildcat defenders near the left corner of the 18-yard box before crossing in a crisp pass to Mikayla Flores, who booted it in five-yards back of the right post.
Flores' game-winner was her first goal of the season.
Seven minutes later the Wildcats hit paydirt when freshman
Sophie Standifer took advantage of a turnover in the defensive end and beat UT goalkeeper Abby Smith for her second goal of the season, both of which have come at Myers Stadium.
Standifer scored her first goal here in a 5-3 win over UTSA on Aug. 28.
Afterward neither side took another shot as Texas employed a corners' defense to help kill the clock and keep the Wildcats' shot total at nine. ACU (1-6-1) put six of those attempts on frame led by Standifer with three. Senior
Lindsey Jones was second with two shots, while three of their teammates finished with one.
Smith collected five saves as UT improved to 3-2-2.
"We played a solid game today," said head coach
Casey Wilson. " The coaching staff is pleased with how we responded after Friday's match (at TCU). It was a great team effort and I liked how our center midfielders played with composure. Kelsie (Roberts) and Chantal (Kinsey) also played great, as they have all year, and I think our schedule has been a constant reminder to keep the bar high."
Newton, much like she was last Sunday night at No. 3 Texas A&M, was an absolute acrobat in between the pipes and drew a number of compliments from the Longhorn Network broadcasters.
One of Newton's best moments came during the closing minutes of the first half as she stopped two shots and fended off a pair of corner kicks in the 43rd minute. Following a corner by Chantale Campbell, Newton dove forward to stop a header at the near post by Jasmine Hart.
On the ensuing corner kick, the defense blocked a shot taken by Flores and then Newton came up with a big save against Katie Glenn.
Newton also greatly impressed during a sequence in the 32nd minute as she and her defense stopped four shots taken in a 26-second window. The Mansfield, Texas, native hit the ground while saving a blast by Flores. Her defense then put up another block, giving Newton just enough time to reach her feet and another of Glenn's five shots.
Texas outshot ACU for the match 26-9 and held a 17-5 advantage after the first half.
Glenn and Dyche shared the team lead with five shots and Flores had four, three of which were on frame.
