| Friday @ Lamar (7 p.m.) |
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| Sunday @ Texas Southern (11 a.m.) |
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ABILENE – Abilene Christian's soccer season begins on the road this weekend with the Wildcats at Lamar on Friday at 7 p.m. and at Texas Southern on Sunday at 11 a.m. (rescheduled from 1 p.m.)
The Wildcats traditionally scheduled tough opening acts and this year is no different. Lamar is coming off a 15-2-2 season in 2022 and returns six players with significant starting experience.
ACU brings back its top two point-scorers from last season in forwards
Chayse Thorn (6 goals, 1 assist) and
Jordan Michie (4 goals, 2 assists), as well as
Macie Stephens, who led the team with four assists last year as a defender.
ACU Storylines
BACK TO ACU: Head Coach Stephen Salas marks his ACU head coaching debut this weekend. He previously served as an assistant coach with the Wildcats from 2013-18 and was part of that 2018 staff that reached the NCAA Tournament. He came back to ACU from his alma mater, Hardin-Simmons, where he served as associate head coach.
BRING IT: ACU has not shied away from tough opponents to start the season, which has resulted in a 1-9 mark in season openers over the last 10 years. The victory in that string came in 2019 when the Wildcats won at New Mexico State, 3-1.
REMEMBER IT: ACU won its only previous meeting against Texas Southern last season, 1-0, in Abilene.
Brennan Reuland had the lone goal for the Cats.
FORGET ABOUT IT: ACU lost 2-0 in Beaumont the last time the Wildcats faced Lamar in 2021. The teams played to a scoreless tie when they met in Abilene earlier that season. The last win for the Cats in the series was a 3-0 victory in Abilene in 2018.
BRACING FOR IMPACT: Chayse Thorn led the team with six goals last season and had four of those in two braces. She scored twice against UTEP and again against Grand Canyon. She has nine career goals through two seasons with the Wildcats.
History with Lamar
- Lamar leads the series, 5-4-1
- Last Lamar win: 10/30/21 at home, 1-0 in 2OT
- Last ACU win: 3-0 at home in 2018
- ACU at home: 3-1-1
- ACU at Lamar: 1-4
Scouting Lamar
- 15-5-2 with an NCAA appearance last season
- 3 players (GK Nicole Pannis, D Arely Alaniz and MF Isela Ramirez) on the United Soccer Coaches Watch List
- 6 players named first-team preseason All-Southland
- Preseason Southland favorite to repeat as champions
- Cariel Ellis returns after a 10-goal, 6-assist season last year.
History with Texas Southern
- ACU leads 1-0
- ACU at home: 1-0
- ACU at TSU: 0-0
Scouting Texas Southern
- 5-10-3 last season
- Lost 3 of 4 top scorers
- Top returning scorer is Victoria Pucci with two goals last season
- Six starters returning
- GK Jaidyn Christophe allowed 2.38 Goals in 2022 with three shutouts
