Whitley Lindholm, Andrea Carpenter, and Krysta Grimm each scored for ACU as they stomped the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma 3-0 Wednesday afternoon in Edmond, Okla.
The No. 24 Wildcats are off to their second consecutive 3-0 season while Central Oklahoma dropped to 0-3.
Head Coach Casey Wilson acknowledged the importance of starting off the season on the right foot, as it serves as a catalyst and motivation tool for the games ahead.
“It’s always good to start out strong. We had lots to work on over the past few weeks, and I feel like we’re making the right steps to get to where we want to be,” Wilson said. “Scoring early serves as built-in motivator for our team, and it automatically builds up our team’s attitude. I hope we continue that trend we’ve started.”
All-American forward Ashley Holton stepped onto the field for the first time this season due to a calf injury that has been hindering her, and made her presence known very quickly against the Bronchos.
Holton had two assists in the game, setting up both Carpenter’s and Lindholm’s goals.
But the sheerness of getting to step onto the field is what Holton is taking from her first game this season.
“It felt great being back on the field and playing to the potential I know I can play at without injuries hindering me,” Holton said.
Grimm scored her third goal of the week on an unassisted goal in the thirty-third minute of the game. The junior gathered a loose ball just outside the goalie’s box and put it the ball over the goalkeeper to make the score 1-0.
“Scoring first and scoring early is important in setting the tone for the rest of the game,” said Wilson. “Krysta has been playing really well for us. She can hurt you in so many ways because her skill set is so broad. She is great on the ball and is excellent in one-on-one situations.”
Carpenter followed suite with six seconds before halftime, making the score 2-0 going into the break.
Carpenter penetrated through the defense and fired a shot from 18 feet out that sailed into the back of the net, making the score 2-0 going into the half.
“I had a good look at the goal and simply took a chance that paid off. There was a slight break in the defense and I decided to take it,” Carpenter said. “I’m fortunate that I did.”
The Wildcats pummeled the Bronchos offensively, outshooting them 11-0 in the first half.
“Part of our game is being aggressive and taking advantage of our opportunities,” Wilson said. “We did that well against Central Oklahoma.”
Whitley Lindholm added to the scoring as she sent a ball to the back of the net in the 67th minute of the contest from 15 feet out.
“Ashley Holton had a great assist, she set me up on the corner of the box, and I tried to use my left foot because I’m more of a left footed shooter. It was a hard angle, so I felt fortunate that it went in,” Lindholm said. “It was definitely exciting scoring my first goal of the season.”
Goalkeeper Elliot London improved her record to 2-0 as she made one save in the first half before Arielle Moncure and Sara Chalmers took over duties in the second half.
“We are doing very well defensively right now,” Wilson said. “All in all, we are coming together very nicely.”
Senior Lyndsey Womack agrees with Wilson’s statement.
“This was by far our best outing this year. We passed well, played good defense, and were solid overall. It was a fun game to play. It was definitely the best I’ve felt about our team after a game this year,” Womack said.
The Wildcats will travel to San Antonio to play Truman State Sunday at 11 a.m. in an effort to continue feeding off their good vibes.
