The No. 4 ACU women’s soccer team season could not have started much better than it has so far. The team has jumped 17 spots in the national rankings, has yet to lose, and boasts one of the best all-around teams in the nation.
Moreover, the team is currently riding a 13-game conference-winning streak that has carried over from last year. That streak, which began towards the end of last season, started as a result of a 1-0 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce in October, which the team will host at 1 p.m. Sunday.
“Commerce has a great team this year. They will be solid and very physical all around,” Head Coach Casey Wilson said. “But we will be ready to play them. Our girls are smart and know what happened the last time we played them. That will serve as motivation for this match.”
Sophomore forward Andrea Carpenter echoed Wilson talking about the physicality and importance on their game.
“Commerce is a very physical team,” Carpenter said. “We need to be ready for a really rough game and for the physicality that they will bring to the table.”
But before the Wildcats step onto the soccer pitch against Commerce, they will have to battle Texas Woman’s Friday at 5 p.m. in the first game of their five-game home stand.
The Pioneers sit in last place in the Lone Star Conference at 0-4 in conference play. But, the team has consistently proven to be difficult competition for the Wildcats.
In their most recent meeting last year, the Pioneers rallied twice to tie the score late in the game before eventually falling 3-2. Andrea Carpenter recorded her second hat trick in that match.
“Texas Woman’s is a solid team, and we just need to come out and put them away early,” Carpenter said.
The Wildcats lead the all-time series 3-0-1 against the Pioneers. All three wins have been decided by one goal.
“Texas Woman’s always comes ready to play. They’re an aggressive team and always find some way to give us fits,” Wilson said. “The team is very well coached and will be prepared.”
Brittany Martin leads the Pioneers in goals (2) and shots (23) followed three players with one goal apiece.
The Pioneers average 0.62 goals per game while allowing 2.25.
Texas A&M-Commerce (4-3-1, 2-1-1) enters the game Sunday following a 3-0 loss to Incarnate Word.
The Lions average 1.5 goals per game while giving up 1.75 to opponents. The Texas A&M-Commerce offense is led by freshman Jade Bell, who has 12 points on the season. Seven Lions players have scored this season.
“Losing to Commerce last year was really painful,” Carpenter said. “I’m really excited to see how we come out against them because we are ready this year.”
The ACU defense has shined bright this year. The unit has allowed three consecutive shutouts and five on the season, while only giving up 5 shots per match.
Senior Lyndsey Womack and Elliott London were selected as the LSC’s Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively.
London has helped maintain a perfect goals-goals against average (0.00) and save percentage (1.000) through eight starts. London is one of only three goalkeepers nationwide to boast a spotless GAA.
The Wildcats remain on top of the South Central Region and are the only LSC team ranked nationally.
ACU averages 2.62 goals per game and allows only 0.50.
Junior Krysta Grimm leads the Wildcats with 13 points and is flowed by Carpenter, who has 12. Ashley Holton is a close third with eight on the year.
