ABILENE – After seven non-conference matches to open 2018, the ACU soccer team heads southeast to Houston for the Southland opener on Friday, Sept. 14 for a matchup with the Huskies of Houston Baptist University. The teams will get together at 7 p.m. at Sorrels Field in their only matchup of the regular season.
THE SERIES… ACU leads the all-time series 4-1 heading into its sixth game with HBU. The team will meet in Houston for the third time, where the teams have split in 2014 and 2015. Two of the five matches have gone to overtime, with HBU winning 1-0 in 2014, and the Wildcats winning 2-1 last season.
THREE STRAIGHT… The Wildcats have pushed their winning streak to three in a row, their longest such streak since 2016, when they beat Houston Baptist, Lamar, and McNeese from Oct. 7-16. ACU picked up a non-conference win over New Mexico State its last time out at Elmer Gray Stadium, 3-2, and had a great road weekend. The Wildcats picked up shutouts over North Alabama (2-0) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-0) on their longest road trip of the season so far. It is already the second time this season ACU has registered back-to-back shutout performances.
SIX-PACK OF WILDCATS… ACU saw six different players score a goal over the weekend in their two wins. Senior
Dylan Owens scored the opening goal against North Alabama, and
Samantha Vestal put the game away in the 38th minute. In Pine Bluff, Ark.,
Sophie Standifer scored in the 28th minute, while
Christina Arteaga added a goal three minutes later.
Caity Acosta joined the party in the second half, and freshman
Emily Heidman scored her first career goal in just her third game. Five Wildcats earned assists, including
Brooke Lenz,
Mary Moore, Arteaga, Owens, and Vestal.
EVERYONE CONTRIBUTING… All three goalkeepers have contributed to the team in 2018, and it was evident on the road trip last week.
Rachel Johnson put together a five-save effort en route to her fourth career shutout, and did so against the top scoring offense in the country in North Alabama. The Lions came in averaging well over three goals per game, and the ACU defense dominated the match. In the win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, sophomore
Erin Smith got the start and earned her first win of the season. Smith split time with
Haleigh Heath, and the two combined for ACU's fourth shutout of 2018.
SCOUTING HOUSTON BAPTIST… The Huskies (2-5) are looking to snap a three-game losing streak heading into conference play, with losses to SMU, North Texas, and No. 18 Texas. The tough competition is getting HBU ready for the Southland schedule. Avery Cortez leads the team with three goals this season, and Alanis Guevara has recorded 42 saves with one shutout in seven starts. Guevara has played every minute of the 2018 season thusfar.
