Wildcats Find Second-Half Equalizer Against Bears At Home

Sunday, October 4

Abilene, Texas

1 p.m.

Abilene Christian

4-2-5, 1-0-2

Central Arkansas

4-5-3, 0-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Central Arkansas	1	0	1
Abilene Christian	0	1	1

The Wildcats celebrate with Sophia Saludares after her assist against Central Arkansas on Oct. 4, 2026.

Wildcats Find Second-Half Equalizer Against Bears At Home

10/4/2026 6:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Lindsey Blasingame

ABILENE — The Wildcat soccer team tied Central Arkansas 1-1 on Sunday at Elmer Gray Stadium. ACU finished with a 26-15 shot advantage and put 14 attempts on goal, while Central Arkansas made 13 saves.

Central Arkansas found the net in the 24th minute, and even though the Wildcats followed with several shots, including one from Mikayla Abrenica that hit the left woodwork in the 25th minute, the Bears held a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Trailing 1-0, ACU opened the second half with pressure, generating chances and corners, including saved attempts from Addison Briscoe, Amelia Miller and Sophia Saludares. The Wildcats broke through in the 75th minute, when Briscoe scored off Saludares' assist to tie the match at 1-1.

Central Arkansas immediately created a sustained response, but Bella Medrano made four saves during the closing stretch, while late ACU shots from Saludares, Nia Leslie, Abrenica and Aliyah Anderson could not change the 1-1 final score.

Briscoe scored once and led the Wildcats with seven shots, putting three on goal. Saludares recorded an assist and added four shots, including three on goal. Abrenica contributed four shots with two on goal.

Medrano added six saves to her season total for 65 overall through 11 games, bringing her save percentage to 89%. She played all 90 minutes for the ninth time this season, alongside Gracie Kelly, who has played all 90 in all 11 games this season, the combination of which provides a consistent defensive effort for the Wildcats.

"A great effort from the team to find the equalizer and remain persistent with our pressure in the attacking third," head coach Stephen Salas said. "We created multiple opportunities to find the game-winner but couldn't get on the end of our multiple chances in the box. Addi scored a great goal off Sophia's service on the free kick. We improved our ball movement and created dangerous opportunities in the latter stages of the first half and throughout most of the second half. We need to be sharper in our composure on the ball and do a better job of settling into the game early. Players continue to step up in key moments, and we look forward to getting some players back to full health next week."

ACU remains at the top of the Red Division with the draw and moves its season record to 4-2-5, while Central Arkansas is tied for second in the division at 1-1-1.

UP NEXT

ACU's next game will come on the road in Florence, Alabama, when it faces North Alabama on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at Cox Creek Sports Complex. The Lions have started conference play 2-1 with wins over West Georgia and Austin Peay University before losing 3-2 to Eastern Kentucky on Sunday.