ABILENE – It was cold. It was windy. It was a night the ACU soccer team thought it would score a little more. But the most important thing: it was a win. The Wildcats (10-4-2, 6-2-1 SLC) battled the SFA Ladyjacks all the way to the end, and then some.
Shay Johnson's goal in the second overtime proved to be the difference as ACU wins its second consecutive game.
Go Pink
- ACU hosted its annual "Go Pink" game. Prior to the game, the Wildcats honored Irma Hernandez, the mother of freshman
Estefany Hernandez, Kathy Starch, the mother of senior
Peighton Starch, Kimberley Lenz, the mother of senior
Brooke Lenz, and all those who are survivors and who are or have battled breast cancer. It was a great ceremony with flowers given to the three soccer parents.
The Goal
- 104' | Senior
Shay Johnson did what she does, teaming up with
Christina Arteaga off a corner kick. On the 12th corner of the night, Arteaga placed a perfect ball in the box, where Johnson came up with it out of a scrum, and placed it through the back of the net. It ended a crazy game that featured big defensive play after big defensive play.
The Numbers
- It appeared as though ACU would win going away, as the home team outshot the 'Jacks 36-12, including a remarkable 19-8 lead in shots on goal.
- SFA goalkeeper Madeline Talbot kept SFA in the game, recording 18 saves. ACU had multiple chances in the cold, but Talbot made some outstanding plays.
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Rachel Johnson ties
Elliott London for the most saves in program history with 13. It is the fifth shutout of 2019 for the Wildcats. Johnson tallied eight saves in the win.
- ACU led 12-5 in corner kicks, with the 12th one being the most important.
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Christina Arteaga recorded a new career-high 13 shot attempts, the second most in a single game in Wildcat history.
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Emily Heidman and
Caylen Wright each added six shots, while Johnson recorded three.
- The weather played a big factor. It was the coldest game of the season by far, with the air temperature at 44 degrees and the wind chill at 41 degrees.
- The 36 shot attempts ties a season-high for ACU, and ranks third in program history for shots in a single game.
- The game was very physical, with ACU called for six fouls and SFA called for five. There could have been more called, but the officials let the players play.
Head Coach Casey Wilson
"It was a wild one. Thirty-six shot attempts and 19 on frame should result in more goals. However, the SFA keeper played a great game. Hopefully we can have more of those opportunities in the net on Sunday."
Up Next
- Sunday's match will be a much warmer game when the Wildcats host the Sam Houston State Bearkats. Temperatures will be in the 80s, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. at the final game of 2019 at Elmer Gray Stadium.
