ABILENE - Abilene Christian soccer ran its unbeaten streak to five matches and picked up its seventh shutout of the season following a 1-0 win at second-place Northwestern State Thursday night.
The Wildcats are now 9-6-2 overall and 5-3-1 vs. the Southland Conference, while the Lady Demons slipped to 8-2-1 and 6-2-1 as they lost for the second time in three matches.
Both teams combined for only 11 shots (six on goal), including six in the first half, but the Wildcats capitalized early in the second half on a botched clearance by Northwestern State within ACU's attacking third. The Wildcats made two passes (
Christina Arteaga to
Natalie Jones to
Jordan Michie) following the Demons' turnover, and then Michie sidestepped a defender before blasting an 18-yard shot that dropped under the upper right corner and past the outreached arm of goalkeeper Acelya Aydogmus.
Michie's goal was her second of the year and first since a September match vs. Texas State.
ACU wouldn't take another shot (Jones) until the 77th minute, but the defense held strong throughout the contest, clearing out six corners and allowing just five shots, two of which were saved by goalkeeper
Erin Smith.
ACU has now shutout its last four Southland opponents, running its scoreless minute streak to 410 as the last goal it allowed came in the '60 minute vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 14.
The Wildcats had six shots and one corner kick with no player recording more than one shot attempt. Four of their six shots were on frame.
The Wildcats return to action Saturday at Central Arkansas.
