The women’s soccer team moved to 2-2 after the weekend, with wins over Texas Wesleyan and Wayland Baptist. The Wildcats earned their first win of the season with a 3-0 decisive victory over Wayland Baptist, and then defeated Texas Wesleyan 2-1 in overtime.
“It felt great to get that first win,” said Madison Brown, senior midfielder. “We’ve had a few games that have slipped by despite playing well, so I think getting that win was important for our confidence as a whole.”
Three Wildcat seniors scored in Friday night’s game, as Sarah Schoch, Taylor Brown and Madison Brown registered their first goals of the year. All three goals came in the first half, as Schoch found the back of the net in the 23rd minute. Taylor Brown was the next Wildcat to score just six minutes later in the 29th minute. Madison Brown’s goal would be the final of the game, as it pushed the lead to three in the 36th minute.
The game was played at Hardin-Simmons Soccer Complex after a 70-minute weather delay postponed the start of the contest. Sydney Newton, sophomore goalkeeper, continued her impressive play, as she stopped two shots and was credited with her second career complete game shut-out.
“The main factor in our win over Wayland Baptist was consistent effort,” Madison Brown said. “The weather presented some adversity, but I think we did well at focusing back in and finishing the game. The first goal by Sarah Schoch was also huge. It put us on the scoreboard and opened the flood gates for other shots on goal.”
Sunday afternoon’s game proved to have a little more flare for the theatrics, as the Wildcats battled back to force overtime and eventually earn the win in. ACU fell behind in the early going with an allowed goal in the 37th minute. The team was able to battle back in the second half after Emily Sumrall, senior midfielder, assisted the goal by Lindsey Jones, junior forward and midfielder, which tied the game at one goal apiece in the 58th minute.
Both teams continued battling, as neither found a go-ahead goal in regulation time. Baylee Mitchell, freshman forward and midfielder from Flower Mound, became the hero as her game-winning free-kick goal in the 95th minute sent the Wildcats home as victors.
“The game against Weselyan definitely became a mental one,” Schoch said. “Once we knew we were having to go into overtime we knew we had to mentally lock in to be able to come out of the game with a win. It took a lot of heart, a lot of focus and a lot of composure to keep our heads right for the game. I knew we could win, we just had to keep fighting until the end and we did.”
The team will take their brief two-game winning streak to Denton Friday to take on the University of North Texas at 7 p.m. The Mean Green is 3-0-0, earning one of its wins against Southland Conference rival Lamar.
“We just need to keep this motivation going into our practices this week so we can get ready for the upcoming weekend of games,” Schoch said.
