CORPUS CHRISTI – The 2017 Abilene Christian soccer season reached its conclusion Friday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Jack Dugan Stadium, where the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks survived a 4-2 penalty kick shootout vs. the Wildcats to advance into Sunday's Southland Conference Championship match against the winner of Central Arkansas and Lamar.
Incredibly, both of ACU's matches at its first D1 postseason tournament were decided in PKs. Wednesday the ball went their way as all five strikers were successful vs. McNeese, but tonight the Wildcats made only two of four attempts in alternating hits and misses vs. SFA goalkeeper Allyson Smith.
Michelle Mulrooney and
Christina Arteaga each found the back of the net for the Wildcats, while SFA's kicks were booted in by Lauren Hall, Carli Arthurs, Katelyn Termini and Hannah Barker. Termini's goal broke the 2-2 tie, and Barker's sent her sideline into a frenzy.
"That was a tough way to go out in PK's," head coach
Casey Wilson said. "Statistically we had many opportunities with 28 shots, 14 on frame among other times we were inside the 18 and six. The wind was a factor for both teams and had equal time with and against it in regulation."
The Wildcats came out energized in the first half blasting 15 shots with six shots on goal to the Ladyjacks one. Arteaga's shot off a pass from
Dylan Owens in the opening three minutes just missed high as the Wildcats looked to jump on the board early.
ACU goalkeeper
Erin Smith then grabbed a save in the fifth minute when it appeared SFA would take an early lead off a header attempt from Breanna Moore.
The Wildcats produced several additional good looks going into intermission. Owens ripped three shots on goal with one batted away by Smith after she cleared four defenders.
Chloe Fifer fired back the rebound that again bounced off Smith's hands, and
Peyton Bucklew completed the sequence with a high kick that sailed over the corner.
A defensive second half for both sides saw 12 shots overall. ACU tallied five, with three on goal, to SFA's seven (five on target).
Owens fired a shot from 10 yards out that looked to be a go-ahead goal, but an SFA defender found a way to block the shot.
Samantha Vestal and
Megan Baer also attempted to knock one over the line with both shots getting stopped by Smith, who allowed two goals earlier this season in a loss to ACU.
The Wildcats came out looking to get the golden goal in the first overtime period by putting up three good shots. Owens and
Shay Johnson each managed quick shots in the first three minutes of overtime. Owens' shot floated just wide while Johnson's flew over the top.
During double overtime
Chloe Fifer and
Dylan Owens each managed quality looks as Smith again grabbed both shots to send the game into PKs.
"The coaches are extremely proud of this team and how resilient these ladies have been this year, always battling back and never losing the faith in what we were looking to accomplish as a team," Wilson said.
ACU finished the season with an overall record of 8-10-2 with both ties coming in the Southland Conference Championship. And in their first year of postseason eligibility, the Wildcats celebrated their fifth-consecutive winning conference record at 6-5, which earned them the No. 6 seed at this week's championship.
