ABILENE - Abilene Christian soccer surged in the second half to battle to a 1-1 tie with Tarleton State at Elmer Gray Stadium on Saturday night. The Wildcats limited the Texans to just one shot after halftime as
Raelin Miller's third goal of the season knotted the score.
ACU returns to Elmer Gray Stadium at 7 p.m. Thursday to take on Western Athletic Conference frontrunner Utah Valley. The Wildcats will host Kicks or Treats.
ACU recorded 10 shots, seven of which were on goal. Seven shots came in the second half, including five on target. Tarleton State managed just five shots with four on goal, yet only one came in the final 45 minutes as the Wildcats' defense tightened.
The Texans registered the fewest shots allowed by ACU this season. Defenders
Katy Gregson,
McCarly Holloman and
Baylie Simon were in action for all 90 minutes.
Goalkeeper
Bella Medrano manned the box for the entire 90 minutes for ACU, making three saves. Miller and
Hannah Vetromile recorded two shots apiece, both of which were on target. Miller netted her second goal in conference play and her first since a 4-0 win over Southern Utah on Oct. 5.
Tarleton State struck first in the 23rd minute as Sam Liaty headed in a ball from right outside the net off a deep assist by Sammy Schulze.
The Wildcats responded after the break, as Miller found the back of the net from nearly 30 yards out off a pass from Holloman in the 68th minute. She sent the ball off her right foot into the top right corner of the goal, past the outstretched arms of the Texan goalie.
Both defenses held strong for the remainder of night, as Tarleton State's lone shot in the second half came in the 81st minute. ACU landed shots on target in the 69th and 90th minutes before time expired.
