ABILENE – The ACU soccer team (9-4-2, 5-2-1 SLC) closes the 2019 home slate this weekend with a pair of games at Elmer Gray Stadium. The Wildcats host the Ladyjacks of SFA Friday night at 7 p.m. for their annual "Go Pink" game, and wrap the weekend with the Sam Houston State Bearkats on Sunday at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE GAMES
- ACU vs. SFA: Friday, Oct. 25 – 7 p.m. (
Live Stats,
Live Video)
- ACU vs. Sam Houston State: Sunday, Oct. 27 – 1 p.m. (
Live Stats,
Live Video)
GO PINK
- The team will wear pink ribbons and socks during the game Friday night to honor Breast Cancer Awareness. Hendrick Women Services is proud to partner with ACU to support and recognize breast cancer survivors and those who are currently battling or have battled. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.
SERIES HISTORY
- SFA leads a very tightly contested series all-time, 4-3-1, but after the Ladyjacks won the first four in the series, it's been all ACU. The Wildcats won in Abilene in 2017, but SFA defeated ACU in penalty kicks in the Southland Conference Tournament later that season. Last year, the Wildcats swept SFA with a 1-0 win in Nacogdoches, Texas in double overtime, and earned a 3-1 win in the Southland Tournament. ACU has a four-match unbeaten streak in the series.
- The Wildcats have dominated the Bearkats over the years, owning a 4-1-1 lead all-time, but the series is tied 1-1-1 in Abilene. ACU topped SHSU 3-0 a season ago in Huntsville, Texas, but fell in Abilene in 2017, 2-1.
ACU STORYLINES
- The Wildcats clinched a spot in their third consecutive Southland Conference Tournament with their victory over McNeese last Sunday afternoon. ACU has earned a spot in the tournament every season it has been eligible; the team could not play in the postseason from 2013-16 due to NCAA transitional ban rules.
- ACU snapped its two-game losing streak with a big win over McNeese, 3-0. Along with the clinching a tournament berth, the Wildcats earned their fourth shutout of the year and got big days from freshmen
Natalie Jones and
Caylen Wright to earn its ninth victory.
- Junior
Christina Arteaga is on an absolute tear. The Pflugerville, Texas native has now scored a goal in five straight games (longest streak of her career) and has matched her 2018 total of 10 scores (4th SLC). Arteaga needs just 22 shot attempts to pass the great Andrea Carpenter for the most in a career in ACU program history.
- Jones and Wright are making quite the impact as rookies. Jones is second on the team and ranks fifth in the league with seven goals and fourth with six assists. Wright's six goals rank third on the team; the Joshua, Texas native has scored a goal in five of her last seven games.
- ACU still has a shot at a regular season championship, but the standings are packed with good teams. Lamar leads the league at 7-1, while UIW sits at 6-2. ACU is tied with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Northwestern State, and Sam Houston State at 5-2-1, while McNeese is 5-3. ACU lost to Corpus and tied with Northwestern State this season. ACU plays UIW on the final weekend of the season in San Antonio.
- The Southland Conference Tournament begins Wednesday, Nov. 6 with the first round, while the semifinals take place on Friday, Nov. 8. The championship match is slated for Sunday, Nov. 10. The tournament takes place in Conway, Ark.
SCOUTING SFA (6-9, 3-5 SLC)
- The Ladyjacks won two keys games in a row over Central Arkansas and Nicholls, but fell to Southeastern Louisiana in their home finale last Sunday.
- SFA still holds the number eight slot in the standings, with the top eight making the conference tournament in Conway.
- Katelyn Termini leads the way with seven goals this season, while Sophia Fondren's six assists are a team-best.
SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON STATE (7-7-1, 5-2-1 SLC)
- The Bearkats have won three straight games, including a 3-2 victory at McNeese, and back-to-back shutout victories at home over Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls.
- Sam Houston State is getting outscored 26-22 this season, and Kalynn Bickford and Sammi Mayock lead the way with four goals scored apiece.
- Goalkeepers Tatum Krueger and Abby DeLozier have combined for 72 saves in 2019.
