The ACU’s soccer team did not waltz onto Texas Christian University’s campus last Friday looking to dance. They were confident in their ability to compete against a great team at TCU, but fell short losing 1-3.

The lone goal was scored by Emily Sumrall, a junior transfer from Navarro College, one of coach Casey Wilson’s 14 additions to the team.

Wilson was very pleased with the play setup from All-American Andrea Carpenter, who played the ball perfectly to Sumrall as she finished with a strike just inside the 18-yard box.

“There was a cross-in to Andrea with two defenders on her side. . .I had the best angle on the goal, so I called for the ball and even clapped a few times,” Sumrall said. “I told myself, ‘this is going in the back of the net’. . .and that’s exactly what happened.”

The team let up a few ill-fated goals, which Coach Wilson said were probably a result of the nerves for the first exhibition game of the season. The game was played in three 30-minute increments in which they lost the first two 1-0 and tied the last one 1-1.

Jacey Ferrara, senior psychology major from Austin, Texas has been on the team since her freshman year. She said she’s never seen this much chemistry in a team, both on and off the field, even though the girls have only known each other a few short months.

“I think it’s been great to see the older girls being intentional with the new faces on the field,” Ferrara said.

Leading up to the game the girls remained focused during their warm up and were ready to play. Soccer balls slid across the field in silence as the team focused on the task.

“I wasn’t even watching the other team while they warmed up. I was just focused on what I had to do,” Sumrall said. “We’re just playing a name on the front of their jersey. . .they still lace up their cleats the same way we do.”

Although the ‘Cats lost, they maintained a great attitude after the game.

“That’s the most fun we’ve ever had losing a game,” Ferrara said in regards to the team’s chat after the game.

The team plays Oklahoma City University Sunday at 2 p.m. for the first official game of the 2013 season.