ABILENE – The ACU soccer team returns to Elmer Gray Stadium for the first time in 19 days on Friday, Sept. 21 for the first of two matchups in the Southland Conference over the weekend. The Wildcats host the Lions of Southeastern Louisiana University at 7 p.m. before closing the weekend with a Sunday matinee against the Colonels of Nicholls State University at 1 p.m. ACU (5-3, 0-1 Southland) will look to get on the board in the Southland schedule after an overtime loss at Houston Baptist last Saturday.
THE SERIES… ACU leads the all-time series 4-1 heading into its sixth game with SLU. The teams will meet in Abilene for the third time, where the Wildcats lead 2-0 thanks to wins in 2014 (2-1) and 2016 (2-0). The lone blemish against the Lions came in 2015 in Hammond, La., with SLU winning 1-0. ACU holds a slight 3-2 edge against Nicholls, including a 2-0 record at home. The Colonels picked up a 2-1 victory last season, snapping a three-game winning streak in the series for ACU.
LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK… The Wildcats fell in the conference opener in tough fashion last Saturday afternoon to the Houston Baptist Huskies in double overtime, 1-0. Despite holding a significant lead in shots (25-6) and shots placed on goal (10-4), ACU could not get on the board, and surrendered a score in the 107th minute to fall 1-0. Nine different Wildcats tallied a shot attempt, with
Christina Arteaga's six leading the way.
HOME COOKIN'… Elmer Gray Stadium has been a fun place for the Wildcats to play in 2018, opening the season 3-0. ACU topped UTEP, 1-0, in double overtime on Aug. 19, and added another overtime win against UTRGV, 1-0, on Aug. 24. The Wildcats then defeated New Mexico State, 3-2, in a long, weather-delayed game on Sept. 2. ACU returns home after nearly three weeks of road games. The three home wins match last season's total, with still six matches remaining in Abilene.
TEAM LEADERS… Arteaga leads the team in multiple categories, including points (8), goals (3), and shots (28). The sophomore is tied for the team-lead in goals with senior
Dylan Owens, who has scored three times on 11 shots. Arteaga's 13 shots on goal lead the squad as well, for a shot-on-goal percentage of .464. Freshman
Ashley Stamps is second on the team with 14 shot attempts (1 goal), while Owens,
Caity Acosta,
Brittney Harris, and
Shay Johnson have each recorded 11. Redshirt junior
Rachel Johnson leads the team with 35 saves in net, and has recorded a 4-2 record on the season.
SCOUTING SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA… The Lions (4-2-1, 1-0 Southland) opened league play with a 2-1 home victory over McNeese last Friday, and overall have won two in a row. SLU picked up three shutouts in the non-conference season, and is led by Nadine Maher and Bailey Scott in goal. The two have combined for 38 saves on the season. Christina Cutura's four goals and 11 points pace a team that has scored 20 times in 2018.
SCOUTING NICHOLLS… The Colonels (2-5) will play for the first time since Sept. 9 Friday night when they travel to San Antonio for a matchup with Incarnate Word. Nicholls had a home match with Lamar postponed and could not get their game with Southern in due to lightning. The team is led by Francesca Curteis' five goals, while Jade Gallaher and Roosa Hurmerinta have split time in net.
