NATCHITOCHES, La. – The ACU soccer team picked up a key road win Sunday afternoon against the Demons of Northwestern State University. After leading 1-0 after the intermission, the Wildcats scored twice in the second half to put the game away for a 3-0 victory. It was the seventh shutout of the season, matching the Division I program record set in 2013; that season marked the first at the DI level.
"It was a crazy game today," said head coach
Casey Wilson. "With the amount of rain we had coming down, it was important to score earlier. Thankfully we did that, and as it continued to get worse, it was very difficult for both teams to move the ball. It was a great road win for our team."
The early goal occurred in the seventh minute, when freshman
Alyssia Anuat received a perfect corner kick from teammate
Christina Arteaga, and sent a header in for her first career score. The 1-0 lead would hold through the remainder of the first half.
"That was the key goal," said Wilson. "Alyssia drove a nice header under the crossbar. That goal was important with field conditions getting worse."
As conditions worsened, the offense got stronger and more efficient. ACU scored a pair of goals in the second half to put the game away, despite NSU taking more shots throughout the game (14-12). The Wildcats held a 7-6 edge in shots placed on frame, and capitalized on three of them for scores.
Junior
Shay Johnson scored her first of the season in the 58th minute after picking up a loose ball and sending one in from the top of the box. ACU led 2-0, and was not done.
With just under four minutes remaining in the game, Arteaga matched teammate
Dylan Owens for the team-lead in goals with four, and received some help from
Sophie Standifer in the process. Standifer sent a perfect cross over to Arteaga, who finished from close range to put the match on ice.
"Those were two solid goals in the second half," added Wilson. "We managed to make the most of the field in the second half. It was a great combo effort from Sophie and Christina. It was great to see."
The Demons held a 9-6 lead in shots in the opening half, but four key saves from redshirt junior
Rachel Johnson, who made her first start since Sept. 15, kept NSU out of the net. Johnson finished with six stops on her way to her fourth shutout of 2018.
Arteaga's three shot attempts led ACU, while Johnson and Anuat added two shots apiece.
ACU returns to Elmer Gray Stadium for three straight matches, beginning next Friday, Oct. 5. The Wildcats host the Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for their Go Pink Game at 7 p.m. That night will also be Teacher Appreciation Night in Abilene.
