Women's Soccer | 8/25/2016 1:53:00 PM
Oral Roberts:
Live Stats
North Texas:
Live Stats |
Video
ABILENE - With the exception of one uncharacteristic first half last Friday vs. UTSA, the Abilene Christian soccer team played remarkably well during its first full weekend of the 2016 season.
The Wildcats lost 4-1 to a Roadrunner team they beat 5-3 last year, but after allowing four goals in the first 26 minutes the home team controlled every aspect of the match with the exception of the scoreboard. ACU outshot UTSA throughout the second half 13-5 and generated four corner kicks, but couldn't get anything past goalkeeper Hannah Weisse, who totaled seven saves.
Sunday's match vs. UTEP was equally frustrating on offense as the Wildcats showered the Miners' defense with 23 shots, placing nine on frame, but the opposing defense lucked out once again. Goalkeeper Alyssa Palacios stopped seven shots, and when she was out of position, her defensive teammates responded with two critical team saves.
ACU's defense was close to impeccable as well, permitting 14 shots and only two corner kicks with the last of those taking place in the 48th minute. Senior
Sydney Newton made three saves over 110 minutes in pitching the fifth shutout of her career.
All four ACU / UTEP meetings have been incredibly close with three overtime decisions, two ties, and neither side scoring more than once.
This weekend the Wildcats close out their three-match homestand with a 7 p.m. match against Oral Roberts followed by their first road contest Sunday at 1 p.m. vs. North Texas. ACU has not faced the Golden Eagles since 2013 – it's first year within the Southland Conference – and twice the Wildcats have lost to the Mean Green.
North Texas topped ACU 3-1 in Denton in September of 2014 and a year later spoiled Opening Night at Elmer Gray Stadium, winning 4-0. The Mean Green went on to finish 2015 with an overall record of 19-4-1, and qualified for the NCAA Championship after winning the Conference USA Tournament with three consecutive 1-0 decisions.
North Texas is off to a 2-0 start this fall with back-to-back shutout wins over Incarnate Word (4-0) and Oral Roberts (1-0). ORU began its year with a 3-0 triumph over Arkansas Pine Bluff.
