It took the Wildcats all but three minutes of regulation time to score their first conference goal of the season. Trailing 1-0 to Texas A&M- Corpus Christi, senior Lindsey Jones found the ball off the rebounded shot from junior Natalie Throneberry in front of the goal to tip it past the Islander’s goal keeper, tying the game in the 87th minute. Through two overtimes, the score would remained and end in a 1-1 tie.
ACU moves to 0-0-1 in Southland Conference play and 1-6-2 overall. The Wildcats first tie of the year came to the University of California- Irvine in a 0-0 draw.
The Wildcats headed to overtime and put up three shots, but failed to score. The game went into a second overtime and still, neither team was able to find the difference maker, ending in a 1-1 tie at Elmer Gray Stadium.
In a game where both sides were frustrated with officiating, the head referee issued seven yellow cards and one red card in the match, all coming in the second half.
A deciding moment for the Wildcats occurred when redshirt-sophomore Leslie Snider picked up her second yellow card of the game, resulting in an automatic ejection, forcing ACU to play a man down for the remainder of the first and second overtimes.
Both teams were evenly matched for most of the first half. At the 44th minute mark, the Islanders found the back of the goal off a header from inside the six-yard mark on a corner kick to make it 1-0 visiting Corpus Christi. The score would hold into halftime, Wildcats down a goal.
The Wildcats came out of the half as the aggressor, pushing the offensive attack to the Islanders. Despite the constant pressure, ACU could not get past the Corpus Christi defensive line. It wasn’t until one last push off a corner kick, that the Wildcats pushed one across.
ACU led the Islanders in shots (27-15) and shots on goal (11-9). The Wildcats also led in a fouls for the physical match (15-11).
Junior goal keeper Sydney Newton got the start in the box for ACU, despite leaving the Wildcats’ last game against the University of Texas with a head injury. She finished against the Islanders with eight saves and one goal allowed.
Jones led the Wildcats with seven shots, three on goal. Snider added four shots, one on goal in 45 minutes of action. Junior Kelsie Roberts, sophomore Chantal Kinsey and Newton were the only Wildcats to play the full 110 minute match.
ACU will travel out of state next weekend with games against Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana. The Colonels dropped their conference opener against Lamar, 1-0 in Beaumont.
