Abilene Christian
Texas Southern
Wildcats Host Tigers, Honor Seniors in Last Nonconference Game
9/19/2026 12:46:00 PM | Women's Soccer
ABILENE – The Wildcats will play their final nonconference game of the season Sunday when they host the Tigers from Texas Southern University. The Tigers are 1-7-1 this season, with their win coming 2-0 in their season opener against UT Rio Grande Valley.
Coming into Sunday's match, the Wildcats are sitting at .500 with a record of 2-2-3, but will look to enter conference play with a winning record. ACU is currently sitting in a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings with Tarleton State and Eastern Kentucky.Â
ACU and Texas Southern have not faced off since 2023, a game the Wildcats won 3-0 in Houston. Former Wildcats Hannah Vetromile and Chayse Thorn scored for the Wildcats. Baylie Simon is the only Wildcat who appeared in that game that is still on the roster, and she played 55 minutes and recorded a shot.Â
In ACU's last game, the Wildcats forced the University of the Incarnate Word to a 0-0 tie, a performance that awarded United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week to freshman Audrey Coppinger. Coppinger is the fourth Wildcat to win a conference weekly award, and her recognition makes it three weeks straight for the Wildcats for conference honors.Â
The Wildcats have chosen to celebrate their Senior Day before Sunday's match and will honor five players.Â
Simon has been with the program for all four years of her career, appearing in 61 games and starting 26. She has played 3,570 minutes for the Purple and White, winning UAC Defensive Player of the Week, Academic All-Western Athletic Conference on three occasions, and CSC Academic All-District her junior season.
Katy Gregson is in her second year at ACU after she played two years at Liberty. She has appeared and started in 21 games for the Wildcats, totaling 1,777 minutes. She earned Academic All-WAC in her junior season in 2025.
Mikayla Abrenica transferred to ACU this season after spending three years at the University of San Diego. Abrenica has started in all seven games for the Wildcats this season, playing 452 minutes, and she scored a goal in the season opener against Jackson State University.Â
Nia Leslie has been at ACU for all four seasons, but has struggled with various injuries. She has played in 28 games and started nine, including seven starts this season. Leslie has totaled 1,130 minutes and achieved Academic All-WAC in 2025.
Aliyah Anderson has been at ACU for five seasons, but was injured for all of the 2025 season and did not play in any games in the 2023 season. She has played in 21 games and started eight for the Wildcats. Anderson also scored in the season opener, which was her first game back from an ACL tear. Anderson was awarded Academic All-WAC in 2024.
The Senior Day celebration will begin at 12:30 p.m., streaming on ACUSports.com. The game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday and will also stream at the same link.
