BEAUMONT, Texas – The Wildcat soccer team never trailed Wednesday afternoon at the LU Soccer Complex in Beaumont, Texas, topping the #4 McNeese Cowgirls 3-1 to advance to the semifinals of the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament. After falling to McNeese in double overtime 19 days ago in Abilene, ACU avenged the loss with its second post-season victory in as many seasons.
The #5 Wildcats (13-5-1) bring their winning streak to five games, and will meet the #1 Bears of Central Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 2 in the semifinals. Kickoff at Lamar University is scheduled for 4 p.m.
"That was a good team win," said head coach
Casey Wilson. "We used a lot of players. We had great energy. We are so proud of our depth and the way we can go to our bench. It was great to see."
Statistically, the match favored McNeese. However, ACU used its most efficient offensive game of the season and the top defense in the Southland Conference to keep its season alive. Despite being outshot 18-7, the Wildcats scored three times, the second-highest total of the season.
After McNeese registered the opening five shots of the game, ACU capitalized on its first chance in the 17th minute. Junior midfielder
Shay Johnson took a pass from
Dylan Owens on the right side of the box, took on a defender, and fired a rifle through the left side of the net for the opening score of the game and her second goal of the season. It is the fourth assist in the last five matches for Owens, and her sixth overall in her senior campaign.
The Cowgirls held a 12-3 advantage in shot attempts in the first half, but ACU was opportunistic, scoring on Johnson's lone chance. The Cowgirls held a 3-0 edge in corners as well, but the ACU defense held strong. Of the 12 shot attempts, only four were placed on frame by McNeese.
"The weather played a little bit of a factor in the first half," said Wilson. "It was humid and warm, and I think we felt that. But getting on the board was important. Shay's goal was such a great effort and great thing to get us going."
The Wildcats doubled their lead in the second half when senior
Caity Acosta recorded her third goal of the season. The Albuquerque, N.M. native took a deflection from
Sophie Standifer and immediately sent a perfect ball from the top of the box for the goal in the 58th minute. It appeared ACU was on its way to an easy victory. However, McNeese had other plans.
The Cowgirls got on the board three minutes later to cut it to a one-goal lead when Rachel Palet sent a perfect corner kick to the middle of the box. Keely Morrow was there for the one-touch to score and make it a 2-1 game. McNeese was right back in it. But ACU kept going.
Chelsea Reedy picked a perfect time for her first goal of the season, scoring in the 63rd minute. The senior took the ball away from Palet halfway into McNeese territory. After regaining her footing, Reedy placed a high-arcing ball with her right foot all the way to the top left corner of the goal. With the score, ACU equaled its highest goal total of the conference season, and has now scored three goals in three of its last five matches.
"We played a much more disciplined game in the second half," Wilson added. "We had two outstanding shots by Caity and Chelsea. It was good to see."
Despite a lopsided shot total (18-7 McNeese), ACU found ways to score. Of the seven attempts, five were placed on frame, good for a .714 percentage. The Wildcats trailed 6-4 in shot attempts in the second half, and goalkeeper
Rachel Johnson recorded a pair of saves. Johnson, the all-conference goal-stopper, improves to 9-3 on the year, and recorded six saves on the day, bringing her season total to 75. McNeese had a few key chances to score, but could not convert
The seven shot attempts came from seven different Wildcats, including the five shots on frame from Johnson, Acosta, Reedy, Owens, and
Christina Arteaga.
ACU has now tallied two wins in the post-season as a member of the Southland Conference; both wins have come against McNeese. Last season in Corpus Christi, Texas, ACU won on penalty kicks to eliminate the Cowgirls, and this season, they did not need extra time. The matchup with UCA will be a rematch of a game played Sept. 28 in Conway, Ark., with the Bears winning 2-1.
"We know UCA is a talented team," said Wilson. "We will have to eliminate mental mistakes, but we are looking forward to it. It should be a great game."
