ABILENE – After a long two-hour lightning delay, the ACU soccer team held off the feisty Aggies of New Mexico State University at Elmer Gray Stadium. The Wildcats jumped out to a commanding 3-0 start, and despite allowing two second-half goals after a two-hour lightning delay, held on for the 3-2 win to stay unbeaten at home. With the win, ACU is off to its best start at home since the 2013 campaign.
The first half was all Wildcats Sunday, as the offense erupted for their best 45-minute stretch of the season. The scoring began in the 19th minute behind sophomore
Christina Arteaga, who benefited from a strong afternoon from teammate
Caity Acosta. Acosta was all over the field from start to finish, and had a good look at a goal on the left side. However, her shot was saved by NMSU goalkeeper Mia Montano, and off the deflection, Arteaga was right there for the second chance. The Pflugerville native pushed it through the back of the net for her second score of 2018.
After the first goal scored in the opening half this season by ACU, the offense was at it again four minutes later. In almost identical fashion, Arteaga and senior
Dylan Owens teamed up for a score. This time Arteaga had a quality look, but the shot was saved by Montano. After the deflection, Owens cleaned up the mess with her second score of the year. The two goals were nearly identical as ACU jumped to a 2-0 lead.
The first half featured a plethora of success for the Wildcat offense, highlighted by a 16-5 advantage in shot attempts. ACU placed 11 of the 16 on frame, scoring three times. The third score was one of the more impressive plays of the young season.
Freshman
Ashley Stamps made quite an impact at the end of the period. Teammate
Samantha Vestal controlled the ball and pushed it up ahead to Stamps just past midfield with eight seconds remaining until halftime. The rookie sprinted down the field, and got off a rocket of a shot with three seconds left. The ball left her foot and hit the net with one second remaining until the intermission. A remarkable score gave ACU a 3-0 lead that looked to be insurmountable.
After halftime, the sky began to change. Six minutes into the second period, lightning was spotted in the area, forcing a delay. After a one-hour, 57-minute stoppage, the teams took the field again. At that point, New Mexico State tried to get back in the game.
In the 63rd minute, Alexa Barrera earned a corner kick, and pushed it to her teammate Aileen Galicia, who was just a few feet away. Galicia then sent a perfect ball with tailing spin on it that snuck just past ACU goalkeeper
Rachel Johnson for the score. The goal was the first allowed by the Wildcats at home this season.
In the 81st minute, the Aggies struck again to get within one, 3-2. Emma Smith took a pass from Barrera and pushed it past Johnson to put pressure on the Wildcats. Despite another lopsided shot total in the second half (15-5 ACU), the home team needed to make one last stand to win the game. The Wildcats kept the ball away from their defenders and held on for the win.
Johnson tallied four saves, and improves to 3-1 on the season. ACU saw 12 players record a shot attempt, led by Arteaga's six. Acosta added five attempts, while Stamps tallied four off the bench. Owens recorded her first multi-shot game of the season with three, and was matched by
Sophie Standifer.
Shay Johnson and
Chelsea Reedy each added two shots.
ACU is back in action Friday, Sept. 7 as they hit the road to Florence, Ala. The Wildcats will square off with the Lions of the University of North Alabama at 7 p.m.
