BEAUMONT – For just the second time in the Division I era, Abilene Christian soccer is 1-0 on the season.
The Wildcats stunned Southland Conference preseason favorite and 2022 NCAA Tournament qualifier Lamar, 1-0, on Friday for the first season-opening victory for ACU since 2019.
Peyton Hill, who scored the lone goal for the Cats in their Sunday exhibition, found the net again on Friday. Her game-winner came in the 56
th minute.
Taylor Denn made a nice cross and Hill powered the ball past the keeper.
"Lamar is a very good team (15-2-2 last year) and our girls played with a lot of heart and fire and had it in them," said first-year head coach Stephen Salas. "It was fun to watch them play with a lot of grit."
Lili Ross, playing in her hometown, turned away five first-half shots on goal and got two more saves in the second half to give ACU a clean sheet to start the season. It was Ross' third career shutout.
"Lili's from Beaumont and she had a lot of fans and support there tonight so it was great to see her get the shutout," Salas said. "We had a back line by committee and they played a good game."
After the scoreless first half, the Wildcats brushed aside any satisfaction with just a well-defensed first half and came out aggressively, Salas said.
ACU had seven shots for the game, led by
Hannah Martin with three shots and two shots on frame.
Georgia Guenther added two shots and
Amelia Leggett had one. Hill's goal was the only other shot on goal by the Wildcats.
Lamar, who has three athletes on the United Soccer Coaches' Watch List, had 11 shots for the game.
The Wildcats, 1-0, travel to Texas Southern for an 11 a.m. contest on Sunday in Houston.
Lamar, which had one loss for the entire regular season in 2022, dips to 0-1.
