NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Christina Arteaga capped off a brilliant weekend with her third goal in as many days as the ACU soccer team topped the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin in double overtime Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats (11-5-1, 6-3-1 Southland) have now won three in a row and recorded their 11th shutout of the season, matching an all-time program record. Of the 11 wins in 2018, 10 have come via the shutout.
The Wildcats remain in the fifth place in the Southland Conference standings, tied with the McNeese Cowgirls (6-3-1 SLC). McNeese holds the tie-breaker due to their victory in Abilene over ACU on Oct. 12.
"It was a good team win," said head coach
Casey Wilson. "I like the fact that we have a deep enough bench to put anyone in the game at anytime. It was a tough game and SFA played very well today. After playing in all those minutes, to capitalize on Christina's goal was huge. She and we had great composure. It was great to get that result."
Arteaga scored in the 102nd minute to propel the visitors to the win. The sophomore was the recipient of a beautiful pass from teammate
Caity Acosta, who sent the ball to the far side of the goal, and Arteaga was there for her seventh score of the season. The Pflugerville native has seven goals and 18 points, leading the team in both categories.
ACU and SFA were even in shot attempts (4) in the first half, and each put two shots on frame. Redshirt junior goalkeeper
Rachel Johnson matched her counterpart Maddie Talbot with a pair of saves in the first 45 minutes, and both teams went to halftime without a goal.
The Wildcats doubled the Ladyjacks in the second half in shots (8-4), but again it was the defenses that held strong. ACU had a chance to score with five minutes remaining in regulation, but
Michelle Mulrooney's shot was saved to preserve the scoreless game.
Both teams tallied two shot attempts in the first overtime period, but none made it on goal. Arteaga had a shot blocked and missed high to keep it 0-0.
The reining Freshman of the Year in the league finally pushed one through the net in the 102nd minute, and the Wildcats walked away with a hard-fought win.
Arteaga's five shot attempts led the way, while Mulrooney and
Shay Johnson each tallied a pair.
Rachel Johnson posted her seventh shutout of 2018, and the eighth of her career, totaling three saves in the process.
ACU will wrap up the regular season next Friday, Oct. 26 against the Cardinals of Incarnate Word. Senior Night at Elmer Gray Stadium gets underway at 7 p.m.
