The Wildcats will host the West Texas A&M University Buffaloes and the Eastern New Mexico University Zias this weekend in two conference matches. ACU will face the Buffaloes at 4 p.m. Friday and finish the weekend’s doubleheader at noon Sunday against the Zias.
“The next two conference games are huge, just like the last two were,” coach Casey Wilson said. “We needed the past two games to get some momentum for this weekend. Going against WT is always tough, but I think we will be ready physically and mentally to go after three to four days of rest.”
ACU is looking to build on two Lone Star Conference wins last weekend after dropping the conference opener. The Wildcats enter the weekend at 7-2 overall and 2-1 in conference. ACU dropped the conference opener against Midwestern State University before knocking off East Central University and Northeastern State University on the road last weekend.
The Wildcats will face two tough opponents this weekend. West Texas A&M has only lost one game all season and enters the match at 6Â-1-3 overall and 2-0-1 in conference. The Buffaloes return a strong program this year and were picked to win the conference on LSC Media Day at the beginning of the season.
The Lady Buffs fell in the LSC championship game last season to the University of Central Oklahoma. However, they still went on a run in the national tournament, making it to the quarterfinals before being eliminated. ACU and West Texas A&M drew to a scoreless 0-0 tie last season. However, ACU will be looking to get on the goal sheet against the Buffaloes with a stronger offense this season.
The Zias have struggled this season with a 3-7 overall start and 0-3 in conference. One of the Zias’ three conference losses came against the Buffaloes in Canyon, 2-0
ACU is off to its best start in its four-year history, lead by a stronger offense this season. Freshman Andrea Carpenter and junior transfer Ashley Holton lead the new offense. Carpenter now has nine goals in nine games and has registered a goal in all but one game this season. Holton has added eight goals this season, including a hat trick last weekend. Having two major scoring threats has helped the Wildcats, as opposing teams are unable to focus on just one player to shut down.
The Wildcats’ great defense has accompanied their solid goaltending. Arielle Moncure and Elliott London have split time in goal and have registered four shutouts in nine games.
The Wildcats will start the Homecoming weekend at 4 p.m. Friday at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch against West Texas A&M.
“We are so excited to get to play WT at home. We like to treat every game as the toughest game of the season, but we know this really is going to be one of our biggest games,” Defender Julie Coppedge said. “We are going in confident but definitely not over-confident. They are a great team, but we know if we play our game, we can come out victorious.”
