Women's Soccer | 10/20/2016 11:43:00 AM
Stephen F. Austin:
Live Stats |
Video (ESPN3)
Sam Houston State:
Live Stats |
Video
ABILENE - A three-match home winning streak has kept Abilene Christian soccer in contention for the Southland Conferene regular-season title, and in order for the Wildcats to keep pace with 7-0-1 Central Arkansas they'll need to score positive results this Friday and Sunday at Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State.
Kick off times are 7 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, with the match at SFA being streamed live to a nationwide audience watching on ESPN3.
ACU (7-7-2) enters this week one game behind UCA in the league standings at 6-1-1 following consecutive home wins last weekend vs. Lamar and McNeese. The Wildcats erased a 1-0 halftime deficit vs. the Cardinals with a couple of second-half goals from
Leslie Snider and
Shay Johnson. Snider tallied the equalizer in the 67th minute, heading in a
Dylan Owens' shot that hit off the crossbar. Fifteen minutes later the Wildcats got their game-winner when freshman
Samantha Vestal's cross through the six-yard box found Johnson.
Sunday's win over McNeese was equally dramatic with the Wildcats winning on a
Chloe Fifer penalty kick in the 82nd minute. Early in the match the Cowgirls were twice foiled by the crossbar during a first half in which they took 10 shots with a 20mph wind at their back, while another of their shots was kicked off the line by ACU defender
Kelsie Roberts.
Roberts then made an impact offensively early in the second half as her fourth goal of the season broke a 0-0 tie in the 48th minute. The Wildcats held that lead until Rachel Palet delivered a 20-yard strike in the 67th minute that hit the upper corner of the far post.
Roberts contributions during both matches earned her a second Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week citation, while Snider received honorable mention for Offensive Player of the Week. Snider finished the weekend with three points and has seven on the season behind Fifer (13),
Natalie Throneberry (10) and Roberts (7).
Fifer's point total, which has come on three goals and seven assists, currently ranks her ninth in the Southland Conference. She also is tied for second with seven assists and Throneberry is tied for 10th with four.
Senior goalkeeper
Sydney Newton suffered an injury vs. McNeese but is expected to start again Friday and continue her all-conference worthy season. Newton ranks second in the league with an 0.78 goals-against average and .865 save percentage, while her five shutouts are tied for first. Newton was only asked to make four saves this past weekend, and her season total of 64 ranks fourth.
Stephen F. Austin is the only Southland school ACU has yet to beat in its four seasons and the Ladyjacks are right behind the Wildcats in the league standings at 6-2, tied with Northwestern State. ACU is 0-3 all-time vs. SFA and has been outscored 5-0.
The Wildcats, however, have fared much better in their history vs. Sam Houston State with a series record of 2-0-1. The Bearkats are currently 2-5-1 vs. the Southland and need wins this weekend vs. Incarnate Word and ACU to get back into the postseason tournament picture.
