ABILENE – The Abilene Christian soccer team kicks off Southland Conference play Friday at 5 p.m. against Houston Baptist at Elmer Gray Stadium.
Against the Huskies: The Wildcats and Huskies have matched up four times prior to Friday's meeting. ACU holds an all-time advantage of 3-1. The two teams hit the pitch for the first time in 2013 resulting in the Wildcats beating the Huskies 1-0, and the year following HBU netted its first and only victory vs. ACU on an overtime penalty kick, 1-0.
Chantal Kinsey and
Chloe Fifer each scored one first-half goal for ACU in last season's match up that resulted in a 3-0 win. The Wildcats outshot the Huskies 23-9, including a 10-5 margin in shots on goal.
During their 2015 match, the Wildcats scored three second-half goals at HBU including one by
Dylan Owens in the 88th minute. Fifer also assisted on the match's first goal in the 61st minute.
Coach's Quote: "We are looking forward to the start of conference play," head coach
Casey Wilson said. "Our non-conference schedule has prepared us in a lot of ways. It is just a matter now of executing our chances and make every attack count."
Follow Along: Fans can watch the HBU match
here or follow live stats
here.
Tickets: Tickets for the matchup can be purchased through
ACUsports.com or at the gate on game day. Admission for adults 14 and older is $5, children 2-14 is $3 ACU students with a valid ACU ID are free of charge.
Quick Kicks:
- Junior Dylan Owens scored the game winner against UTEP in overtime, giving ACU its first victory of the season
- Owens leads the team with seven points and three goals on eight shots with one assist
- Freshman Erin Smith has recorded 30 saves
- Senior Megan Baer and sophomore Samantha Vestal lead the Wildcats with two assists each
- Freshman Christina Arteaga leads the team with 571 minutes played
- 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 program architect and only head coach in team history. He also is one of 23 NCAA DI women's soccer coaches still with the team that they founded.
