Soccer releases 2024 Schedule, set to host WAC Tournament
7/9/2024 10:00:00 AM | General, Women's Soccer
ABILENE – The anticipation for the upcoming ACU women's soccer season reaches new heights with the release of the 2024 schedule. Head Coach Stephen Salas, heading into his second season for the Wildcats, is gearing up for an exciting lineup, that ends with the program hosting the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Elmer Gray Stadium.
Some teams featured on the schedule include Texas State, Mississippi State and Oral Roberts.
"We are ready to compete for a conference championship, especially since the conference tournament will be held at ACU come November," Salas said. "This schedule is composed of teams and atmospheres that will challenge us and make us better in the pursuit of our ultimate goal."
The Wildcats open with two exhibition games on Aug. 9 and Aug. 11. The first exhibition will be hosted at home against Texas State at 7 p.m., and have a quick turnaround on the road with the second exhibition being held in Portales, N.M. against the University of New Mexico.
ACU debuts at Elmer Gray Stadium on Aug. 17, hosting UTEP. Then they have two more home games, Lamar on Aug. 22 and Mississippi Valley State on Aug. 25, trailing right behind.
After Mississippi Valley, the Wildcats go on a five-game road stretch. The trip starts in Corpus Christi on Aug. 29, playing Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Then to Natchitoches, La. to play Northwestern State on Sept. 1.
Next, the Wildcats head to Houston, ACU plays Prairie View A&M on Sept. 5, followed by Houston Christian on Sept. 8.
The Wildcats finish up their run in the south in Starkville, Miss. against Power Five School Mississippi State on Sept.12.
After three weeks of travel, ACU is back in Elmer Gray on Sept. 15, hosting the University of North Texas for the first time since 2021. With one anticipated game, there comes another. ACU is set to host Oral Roberts University on Sept. 9.
To end non-conference play, The Wildcats take a trip to San Antonio to take on the UTSA Roadrunners on Sept. 22.
Western Athletic Conference play starts on Sept. 28, with ACU hosting Seattle U.
The Wildcats head west for three games in three separate states. Starting in Arizona, ACU will take on WAC powerhouse Grand Canyon. The Purple and White make their way down to the sunny coast of California, playing California Baptist on Oct. 6. Then, ending their journey west, they finish their travels to the mountains of Utah, taking on Utah Valley on Oct. 12.
Staying on the Utah train, ACU hosts two conference games with the two other Utah schools in the WAC. The match against Southern Utah will take place on Oct. 17, and then Utah Tech with a match on Oct. 20.
The last game of conference play will take place in Stephenville against Tarleton State, on Oct. 26. After their travels, the Wildcats will anticipate the WAC Tournament right on their home turf.
This is the second time in program history that ACU has secured the WAC Tournament host role at Elmer Gray, which is set to begin Nov. 3. The first time the WAC Tournament came to the Big Country was in 2021, the first year ACU's first year in the WAC after leaving the Southland Conference.
The Wildcats have only made one appearance in the Division I NCAA tournament back in 2018 after winning the Southland Conference Tournament that season.
Salas has been waiting for the season to start and is eager to see his newcomers and returners take on this schedule.
"I'm excited for this team with veteran leadership and numerous returners coming back for a special year," said Salas. "We are focused and ready, between the staff and team, to implement our growth over the past year on and off the field."
The program team invites fans, alumni, and supporters to mark their calendars and join them in cheering on the Wildcats as they strive for success in the 2024 season. More details about the upcoming season can be found here.
