HOUSTON – Abilene Christian blazed past Texas Southern for a 3-0 win Sunday to move to 2-0 on the season.
The Wildcats, who shut out Lamar 1-0 on Friday, logged back-to-back shutout wins to start the season for the first time in ACU's Division I era.
Chayse Thorn had the big day for the ACU offense, scoring twice, while
Lili Ross and
Julia Herges combined for the shutout in goal.
"Two wins and two shutouts in our first two games of the season," said ACU Head Coach Stephen Salas. "A fantastic team win and a strong start to the season! We talked about our team discipline today of scoring early and keeping the shutout, which is what we achieved."
The Cats deployed 24 players in the game and 10 players got off a shot.
Thorn got the game-winner in the seventh minute on a long free kick.
Thorn put her head to a near-perfect cross from
Hannah Martin in the 21st minute for a 2-0 lead.
Hannah Vetromile wrapped up the scoring with a goal in the 36th minute, moving her way with the ball past the TSU defense before finishing.
"
Chayse Thorn got our early goal with a brilliant free kick from distance," Salas said. "We followed that with a well-timed cross from
Hannah Martin to find Chayse for a header on the back post. We knew Chayse was going to get on the score sheet. The last goal was a great textured through ball from
McCarly Holloman to
Hannah Vetromile, who dribbled in to beat the backline and score. We've been working on that final entry pass this week, so it was good to see them apply it."
Ross and Herges had one save each with both playing a half.
"A great shared shutout between
Lili Ross and
Julia Herges, as well as the backline," said Salas.
ACU out-shot its host 26-9 and put nine shots on goal.
Martin and
Peyton Hill had five shots with Thorn taking four.
Taylor Denn and Jordan Miche had three each,
Amelia Leggett launched two and
Jillian Beck, Vetromile,
Emma Nylund and
Baylie Simon had one apiece.
Martin and Thorn had two shots on goal and Denn, Vetromile, Michie, Nylund and Beck put the ball on frame once each.
It was Thorn's third career brace. She also scored two goals in a game last season against Grand Canyon and Texas-El Paso.
Now 2-0 for the first time since 2019, the Wildcats test themselves on the road again at 7 p.m. on Thursday at UTEP.
