Women's Soccer | 9/28/2016 10:48:00 AM
Northwestern State:
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Central Arkansas:
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ABILENE - Abilene Christian's soccer team places its undefeated Southland Conference record on the line this weekend when they visit Northwestern State and Central Arkansas. Kick off in Natchitoches is Friday at 7 p.m., while Sunday's match in Conway, Ark. begins at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats (4-6-1, 3-0-0 Southland) shutout the Bears and Lady Demons at home last season. ACU's 1-0 win over UCA gave the Wildcats a 2-0-1 series lead, and its 2-0 victory over Northwestern State was its third-straight shutout in the series. ACU has outscored the Lady Demons 6-0.
Defender
Kelsie Roberts and goalkeeper
Sydney Newton were honored as two of the Southland's Players of the Week following the Wildcats home sweep of UCA and Northwestern, and earlier this week they received honorable mention status for those awards after ACU went 2-0 against Nicholls (W, 2-1 OT) and Southeastern Louisiana (W, 2-0).
Newton made four saves against the Colonels as her defense limited the opposition to 14 shots in 94 minutes, and Roberts scored the match's first goal after heading in a
Chloe Fifer corner kick in the 32nd minute. The game-winner in overtime was provided by
Dylan Owens, who finished a
Natalie Throneberry shot that richocheted off the hands of Nicholl's goalkeeper Roosa Hurmerinta.
Sunday the Wildcats survived both a deluge of rain and a late-match surge by the Lady Lions, who were coming off a 2-1 loss at Incarnate Word. Newton made six stops in securing her seventh career shutout victory, and was helped along by a team save from
Alyssa Gerner at the far post, plus first-half goals from Fifer and
Samantha Vestal.
Fifer split a pair of defenders at the top of the 18 and beat Southeastern goalkeeper Hope Sabadash inside the six for her first goal of the year in the fifth minute, and as time was expiring, Vestal picked up a loose ball in the ACU attacking third and arced a looping shot from 30 yards away with Sabadash well off the line.
Vestal's first goal of the year was assisted by defender
Peyton Bucklew.
With four points this weekend on a goal and two assists, Fifer ranks first in the league with seven assists - five of which have come against Southland opponents. Vestal also ranks among the league leaders with 27 shots, while Newton is second with a 0.86 GAA and .854 save percentage.
Newton additionally has the fifth-most saves with 41 and is tied for second with three shutouts.
Northwestern State begins the week at 5-5 overall and 2-1 vs. the Southland Conference, one game behind the unbeaten Wildcats, Bears and Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks. The Lady Demons lost their conference opener, 1-0, to SFA, but rebounded the following weekend with victories over Lamar (1-0) and McNeese (2-1).
Central Arkansas' 3-0 start vs. the Southland has the Bears at 8-3 overall. UCA's big start includes 4-1 wins over Sam Houston State and Lamar and a 5-0 victory vs. McNeese.
