ABILENE – The Abilene Christian soccer team faces the two best Southland Conference teams this weekend when they head to Lake Charles, La. Friday to take on McNeese and Beaumont Sunday to face off against Lamar. Friday's contest against the Cowgirls is slated to begin at 7 p.m. and Sunday's match against the Cardinals is set for 1 p.m.
Against the Cowgirls:
The Wildcats and Cowgirls have matched up on the pitch four previous times and the all-times series is squared away at 2-2. The two squads meet for the first time in 2013 when McNeese scored a goal in overtime to beat ACU, 1-0.
Kelsie Roberts and senior
Chloe Fifer each scored last season to help the Wildcats beat the Cowgirls 2-1. Fifer's game winning goal came in the 83rd minute of the contest when a McNeese foul resulted in a penalty kick goal. ACU also beat McNeese 3-2 in double overtime during the 2015 season with Maria Gomez converting a penalty kick in the 102nd minute. The Cowgirls sent that match into overtime thanks to two goals scored in the final 2:35 of regulation.
Against the Cardinals: Abilene Christian is 3-1-0 all time against Lamar dating back to 2013 when ACU entered the Southland Conference. The Wildcats have won the last three meetings between the two teams, outscoring the Cardinals 10-3.
Sophomore
Shay Johnson scored the game-winner last season to secure a 2-1 win. The Wildcats additionally beat the Cardinals 6-2 in 2015 at the LU Soccer Complex, as junior
Dylan Owens placed five shots on goal and posted two assists. ACU outshot LU 38-12 overall, and 22-5 shots on goal.
Coach's Quote:
"We expect McNeese and Lamar to be a tough matches," head coach
Casey Wilson said. "Each year we play each other the games are always good. Both teams have proven this year why they are currently sitting up on top of the standings. We just have to go in with the mindset of playing our game for 90 minutes and focusing on the details."
Follow Along: Fans you can follow
live stats of Friday's game action in Lake Charles, and Sunday's 1 p.m.
live stats against Lamar.
Quick Kicks:
- Junior Dylan Owens scored the game winner against UTEP in overtime, giving ACU its first victory of the season
- Owens was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week for October 10
- Owens leads the team with six goals and 12 points, ranking seventh in the Southland in points
- Freshman Erin Smith has recorded 40 saves in 10 games
- Sophomore Samantha Vestal lead the Wildcats with four assists
- Sophomore Shay Johnson leads the team with 1087 minutes this season
- The Wildcats six goals against Northwestern State is the most against a conference opponent since 2015 when ACU beat Lamar 6-2.
- 26 Wildcats have seen action on the pitch this season
- ACU has 15 returners and 15 newcomers on the 2017 roster
- This is head coach Casey Wilson's 11th year with the team. He is the architect and only head coach in program history. He also is one of 23 NCAA DI women's soccer coaches still with the team that they founded.
