This past weekend, the women’s soccer team experienced a heart-breaking end to their season.
The Wildcats traveled to Beaumont to take on the Lamar Cardinals in the second to last game of the season. After giving its all, the team was unable to overcome the deficit, as they lost 2-1.
Going into the final games of the season, the team was down three players due to injuries that occurred within hours of game time.
While having to make constant adjustments to the rotation, the battle only continued for the ‘Cats.
The Lamar Cardinals proved they would put up a fight.
Fighting back, senior forward Andrea Carpenter scored her 13th goal of the season at 16:32 in the first quarter, with an assist from senior midfielder Ashley Craig.
Lamar returned with a vengeance in the second half, scoring twice before the clock ran out.
ACU remained determined as freshman goalie Kelsey Dombrowski made two saves within the remaining minutes of the game. Dombrowski had a total of six for the match.
Carpenter is among the league’s leaders in goals and points this season.
“My highlight for this season has been all the memories that I have had the privilege to make with all of these wonderful girls,” Carpenter said. “Each practice, bus ride and game is another opportunity for me to create memories that I will have for the rest of my life.”
The Wildcats then traveled to Lake Charles, La., where they would face off with McNeese State University in their final game of the season.
Tension was high as both teams played hard without entertaining the thought of ever backing down.
The whistle blew, marking the end of regulation as neither team had yet to reach the back of the goal, though 12 shots were attempted from ACU and 14 from McNeese.
It wasn’t until overtime that MSU scored a goal against the ACU defense.
The Cowgirls ended the ‘Cats’ season on the note of 1-0.
Overall this season, the Wildcats finished 13-5-1 and No. 4 in conference with 7-5-0.
“We competed well and rose to the occasion,” head coach Casey Wilson said. “To know that we can compete at this high of a level was a good experience.”
