SAN ANTONIO – It was a physical battle on the road Friday night for ACU Soccer's season finale against the UIW Cardinals, but early offense was the key as the Wildcats (12-4-2, 8-2-1 SLC) earned a 3-2 victory. The win clinches the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament, which takes place next week in Conway, Ark.
Tournament Seeding
- ACU earns the No. 3 seed, and will play the No. 6 seed McNeese Cowgirls on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. It will be the second game of the first round, with the semifinal game set for Friday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. The championship match is slated for Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1:05 p.m.
The Seeds
1. Lamar
2. Northwestern State
3. ACU
4. UIW
5. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
6. McNeese
7. Sam Houston State
8. SFA
The Goals
- 22' | Senior
Shay Johnson scored her sixth goal of the season to get the scoring started on a beautiful assist from freshman
Natalie Jones. It was the seventh assist of the season for the rookie from Lubbock.
- 29' | Junior
Christina Arteaga added her new single-season best 12th goal of the year in ridiculous fashion. The Pflugerville native had her penalty kick saved, but got her own "rebound" and put it in the net to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
- 53' | Freshman
Caylen Wright pushed the lead to 3-0 with her seventh goal of the season, matching
Natalie Jones for second on the team.
- 56' | UIW's Cloe Morales made it 3-1 ACU.
- 74' | UIW's Keeley Ayala made it 3-2 ACU, but the Wildcats would hold on.
The Numbers
- ACU led 21-10 in total shots, including 13-6 in shots placed on frame.
- Redshirt senior
Rachel Johnson added two saves in each half to bring her total to 56 for the season.
- Each team recorded seven corner kicks.
- ACU has only been eligible for the Southland Conference Tournament for three seasons, and will make it for the third consecutive year. The defending champions earned the No. 3 seed, their highest seed in this three-year run.
- UIW was called for 18 fouls, while ACU was called for just six.
- Arteaga's goal gives her a score in seven of her last eight games, the best stretch of her career.
- Jones' assist gives her a team-best seven for the season.
Up Next
- The Wildcats and Cowgirls meet again in the postseason on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.
