ABILENE - The Abilene Christian women's soccer team suffered its second loss in three matches to start the season, falling 1-0 to Oral Roberts Friday night at Elmer Gray Stadium.
The Golden Eagles (2-1) scored the eventual game-winner at the end of the 40th minute when a cross from the end line by Chloe Basnett found Kyle Dellis inside the six-yard box. Dellis' goal was her first of the season and snapped an ACU opponent scoreless streak at 213 minutes as the Wildcats hadn't allowed a goal since the 27th minute last Friday vs. UTSA.
With both sides heavy on substitutions late in the first half, Basnett shook off her defender at the end line and delivered a crisp, low pass into the goal mouth, from where Dellis redirected the ball past ACU goalkeeper
Sydney Newton.
The goal was the first allowed by Newton this season in 245 minutes of competition.
ACU's offense went right after the equalizer to start the second half, but the Wildcats couldn't generate a shot off a corner kick in the 47th minute and attempts by freshman
Samantha Vestal and senior
Leslie Snider were saved by backup goalkeeper Paige Vincent.
Snider put up a header at the far post that looked like it may arc in and over the line, but Vincent made a jump in the corner to pull the ball down and preserve the shutout.
The Wildcats again created a multitude of scoring opportunities in the 66th minute as three shots came off two corner kicks taken 18 seconds apart.
Chloe Fifer's corner kick was headed down by
Danielle Otto and slapped out of bounds, and following
Natalie Throneberry's corner kick, the Wildcats'
Shay Johnson had a shot blocked and then
Dylan Owens had her attempt saved by Vincent.
ACU's last chance to tie the game came with 1:05 remaining with
Sophie Standifer ripping a shot from just inside the 18-yard box, however, Vincent was there once again and finished her night with five saves.
Ryliegh Bohnenstiehl started for the Golden Eagles and picked up the victory for making two saves within the first 17 minutes. Newton, meanwhile, had three saves for the Wildcats and her defenders block four additional attempts.
ACU recorded only three shots in the first half with the last one being a Johnson header off a Throneberry corner kick in the 21st minute.
ORU ended the match with a 13-10 advantage in shots and had seven corner kicks to five for the Wildcats. Dellis led all players with three shots despite only playing 59 minutes off the bench.
Of ACU's 10 shots, seven were placed on frame as four players shared the team lead with two attempts.
The Wildcats return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. for a match at the defending Conference USA Champions North Texas.
