Abilene Christian
Texas State
Wildcat Soccer Hosts Exhibition Match Saturday
8/7/2026 11:58:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Abilene Christian 2026-27 athletics calendar gets underway with the Wildcat soccer team hosting an exhibition match against Texas State on Saturday. Kickoff from Elmer Gray Stadium is at 7 p.m., and admission is free.
ACU is coming off a successful 2025 campaign in which the Wildcats qualified for the WAC Tournament. The team defended its home field well with a 5-1-2 record in Abilene.
Stephen Salas, entering his fourth season as head coach and 10th overall with the program, has had the task of replacing nine seniors who graduated, but believes this year's team is full of quality players.
I really do feel this is the strongest and deepest this team's been, said Salas. The players I have returning were a good core nucleus, and between our transfers and our newcomers, I really feel we'll hit the ground running.
Saturday's exhibition will be the first taste of outside competition for the Cats, who open the regular season with a neutral site match against Jackson State on Aug. 15 in Shreveport, La. ACU then plays four consecutive home matches in an 11-day span, highlighted by Big 12 member Houston coming to town on Aug. 27.
Back in the day we used to play these opponents and they're like, 'Oh this is fun, but it's going to be tough to compete.' Now we feel we should be in every game and competing for every game.
ACU will hold Senior Day on in the nonconference finale against Texas Southern on Sept. 20. United Athletic Conference action begins with back-to-back road games at Little Rock on Sept. 24, and at Tarleton State on Sept. 27. The Wildcats will host those same two teams to finish league play with home matches against Central Arkansas, West Georgia and Eastern Kentucky in between.
There is a lot of parity in the UAC. I feel like we should be one of the favorites.
