The women’s soccer team returned from Wichita Falls Wednesday night after a 1-1 tie with Midwestern State.
After a scoreless first half, both teams returned to the field desperate to make a play.
“Both us and Midwestern have been struggling to score goals this year so far,” Wilson said. “Both teams are capable of playing with anyone in the conference at this point. On our side, we just need to execute.”
It wasn’t until the 62nd minute that ACU sophomore midfielder Megan Turner redirected a shot, scoring the first goal of the game, and her first of the season for the Wildcats.
“Megan crashed on the backside like an outside mid is supposed to do, and she ended up with a good result,” Wilson said. “When Megan is positioned correctly on the field and plays to her strengths, she can be quite effective.”
Midwestern State’s Maddie Fraser answered only four minutes later, tying up the game and also scoring her first goal of the season.
Both teams had additional opportunities to score, but couldn’t come through with it. Junior midfielder Ashley Craig had two shots on goal, but was blocked in the 70th and saved by Mustang goalkeeper Mallory Whitworth in the 86th minute. It was Whitworth’s only save of the game.
Senior defender Stephanie Heron and junior forward Andrea Carpenter followed Craig’s lead, but their shots were both blocked, as well as Turner’s second shot of the game. Midwestern State was also unable to score on Wildcats senior goalkeeper Arielle Moncure in order to win the edge.
After going into two periods of extra time, there were no decisive goals, ending the game in a 1-1 tie. The Mustangs outshot the ‘Cats 6-2 in overtime, and Moncure finished with seven saves.
“Both us and Midwestern and us had scoring opportunities througout the game,” Wilson said. “But, I feel there was a chance or two in the second half we were a little unluky on as we were there and in the right place to finish.  The girls continued to play hard throughout overtime and am proud of their effort as they never stopped their effort to attack.”
The rivalry between the Wildcats and Mustangs goes back to last year, when they battled for the Lone Star Conference championship.
In the championship game, the Mustangs rallied a 1-0 deficit in the second half, winning 2-0. The Wildcats previously won the title in 2010, and were hoping to win a second consecutive year.
The Wildcats will return to action this weekend, as they travel to Denton to play Texas Woman’s Friday at 7:30 p.m., and then to Commerce to play Texas A&M-Commerce Sunday at 1 p.m.
