The soccer team took advantage of Homecoming weekend as it defeated Texas A&M Corpus Christi and University of Incarnate Word.
The wins put the Wildcats at 13-3-1 overall and 7-3 in the Southland conference. ACU is currently fourth in the conference, joining Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana and Oral Roberts as teams who have seven or more wins in conference play.
“I felt we played really well in both games,” said head coach Casey Wilson. “Incarnate Word definitely had some size and speed that we had to deal with, but I also feel we did a better job on capitalizing on our chances on Sunday than we did Friday.”
ACU defeated the Cardinals 3-1 on Sunday behind two goals from senior forward Andrea Carpenter. The Wildcats struck first with an early goal from Carpenter and then another to go up 2-0 after 35 minutes of play.
Junior midfielder Emily Sumrall added another goal, putting the nail in the coffin. UIW scored its lone goal of the game in the 81st minute of play to produce the final score.
“We stayed focused and under control and that’s what led to the win,” Carpenter said. “I’m so proud of how we fought and competed as a team.”
The Wildcats took on TAMUCC on Friday, competing against the weather as well. ACU took the lead with a goal from Carpenter to go up 1-0. Corpus Christi responded with a goal during the 55th minute to tie things up.
Soon after that, the weather became an issue as lighting was spotted in the area, causing an hour and fifteen-minute rain delay. Temperatures were in the 70s to begin the match and ended up dropping into the 40s when the final whistle was blown.
“The weather was definitely a problem as we had to overcome cold, windy and rainy conditions,” Carpenter said. “We stayed focused during the delay and then came out and played the rest of the game with passion.”
Carpenter would return the favor to Sumrall with a pass that resulted in a goal by Sumrall only a few minutes after returning from the delay. The goal ended up making the difference as ACU held on for the 2-1 win.
“There’s just something about getting a win on your home field,” Sumrall said. “In games like that, focus level off and on the field can decide games.”
Carpenter had three of the team’s five goals scored over the weekend. She now has 12 goals for the year and is tied for first place in the conference for goals scored during the season.
“She has produced for us the whole time she has been here and it’s because she is such a great competitor,” Wilson said. “She constantly puts pressure on the defense and usually takes advantages of their mistakes.”
ACU will finish out their season with games on the road against Lamar and McNeese State.
