ABILENE – The ACU soccer team (8-3-2, 4-1-1 SLC) ends its three-game road trip this weekend with matchups against the top two teams in the Southland standings when it takes on Lamar and McNeese. The Wildcats look to get back on track after falling at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last Friday, and have a chance at clinching a berth in the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament as well. Friday night's game with the Cardinals in Beaumont, Texas gets underway at 7 p.m., while the Sunday match in Lake Charles, La. against the Cowgirls kicks off at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE GAMES
- ACU at Lamar: Friday, Oct. 18 – 7 p.m. (
Live Stats)
- ACU at McNeese: Sunday, Oct. 20 – 1 p.m. (
Live Stats)
SERIES HISTORY
- ACU owns a 4-2 advantage against Lamar all-time, with the Wildcats winning in Abilene last season, 3-0. The team has had its fair share of struggles in Beaumont, falling in 2013 and 2017, and trailing the series 2-1 at the LU Soccer Complex.
- The Wildcats trail the series 4-3-1 to McNeese, and met twice last season, splitting those matchups. ACU lost at home in double overtime, 1-0, but got its revenge at the SLC Tournament, defeating the Cowgirls 3-1 in the opening round. ACU is just 1-2 all-time in Lake Charles.
ACU STORYLINES
- The Wildcats can clinch a spot in the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament this weekend, but would need some help. If the Wildcats win Friday night at Lamar AND both Southeastern Louisiana and Houston Baptist either lose or tie with their respective opponents, ACU is in.
- ACU fell at Corpus, 2-1, in heartbreaking fashion last Friday night. After gaining an early lead, AMCC tied it less than a minute later, then won with just five minutes remaining in the game. It was the first conference loss of the year for the Wildcats.
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Christina Arteaga added another goal to her season total, which now sits at eight. The junior needs two more goals to match last year's total of 10. Her eight scores rank fourth in the Southland Conference.
SCOUTING LAMAR (8-6, 5-1 SLC)
- The Cardinals are red-hot, winning four straight games coming into this matchup. Lamar has scored at least three goals in each game during the winning streak.
- Lamar leads the league in scoring, averaging well over 2 goals per game in 2019. Its 38 goals scored are a league-best, and rank eighth nationally.
- The Cardinals have the top two scorers in the conference, Esther Okoronkwo (13 goals, 3rd NCAA) and Lucy Ashworth (12 goals, 4th NCAA).
SCOUTING McNEESE (9-4, 5-1 SLC)
- The Cowgirls had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a home loss to Sam Houston State last weekend, but still are in a three-way tie for first in the conference.
- McNeese has done it with defense, recording four shutouts in 2019. Goalkeeper Emma Roccaforte ranks third in the conference with an .806 save percentage.
