The women’s soccer team has a chance to accomplish something it has not done all season, own a winning record.
The Wildcats currently stand 6-6 with a 3-1 Southland Conference record, but will have the opportunity to go above .500 this weekend against the University of Central Arkansas.
“Our main thought going into this game is simply just win,” said Natalie Thronberry sophomore midfielder. “We are so focused and have our mind set on conference that we know we just have to keep winning one game at a time.”
The Wildcats have won three of their last four games.
Since entering conference play, ACU has outscored its opponents 8-4 and shut out Nicholls State, 3-0.
“We have really worked on playing together and playing for each other,” Thronberrysaid. “We have focused on finishing our chances and making sure we play a full 90-minute soccer game.”
The team is coming off two impressive wins at home last weekend. The shutout win was followed by a hard fought victory over conference leader Southeastern Louisiana in which the Wildcats were able to overcome an early 1-0 deficit and overcome SELU, who is now 3-1 in conference and 10-2 overall.
“Getting those two wins at home is a huge confidence boosts for us,” said Alyssa Gerner sophomore defender. “We have a lot of things going right for us right now, we just have to keep it up and keep doing what we know best.”
UCA will come into the match with a 5-4-1 overall record and a spit 1-1 conference play record. The Bears have dropped their last two out of three games and the offense has been nonexistent, having been shutout in three of the last five games.
Freshman forward Baylee Mitchell has been extremely vital to the Wildcats’ success this season. Mitchell leads the team in points (14), goals (7) and game winning goals (4), all while coming off the bench. She is fourth in the Southland in points, tied for second in goals and tied for first in game winning goals.
“I think all my success so far comes equally as much from my teammates as well,” Mitchell said. “They play a huge role in helping me obtain certain game to game goals we’ve set for the team.”
The game against Central Arkansas will be satet at 7 p.m. Friday on the road in Conway, Arkansas.
