Lamar: WATCH | LIVE STATS
McNeese State: WATCH | LIVE STATS
The second-placed Wildcats embark on their final road trip of the season, as they take on Lamar and McNeese State over the weekend. ACU owns a 2-6 road record, but is on a three-game winning streak, while outscoring their opponents 6-1 in those matches. The Wildcats will play the Cardinals on Friday at 7 p.m. and will then play the Cowgirls on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats (4-1-1, 5-7-2) have been led by their defense since entering Southland Conference play, holding opponents to less than one goal a game, as they have yet to allow more than one goal to a conference opponent.
Junior goalkeeper Sydney Newton has tallied 37 saves (third in conference) during conference play for an average of 6.2 saves per game. She also has a 91.5 save percentage which ranks second in the Southland, along with a 0.64 goals per game average that is tied for second in the conference.
ACU comes off an impressive 3-1 win against 2014 Southland Conference Tournament Champion Houston Baptist. The win was also just the Wildcat’s second road win of the season, as three second half goals pushed the visiting Wildcats ahead of the Huskies. ACU nearly had the shutout, but a late goal in the 89th minute put HBU on the board, but still gave the Wildcats the victory.
Junior Maria Gomez (61′), junior Danielle Otto (68′) and freshman Dylan Owens (88′) all had goals for ACU. For Owens, it was her third goal of the season which ties her for the team lead with senior Lindsey Jones and fellow freshman Sophie Standifer.
Lamar (2-4, 6-9) are in the midst of a four-game losing streak against the best the conference has to offer. Over their current slide, they have faced the first and fourth teams in the conference, along with two teams tied for third. After winning their first two conference games, the Cardinals fell to Central Arkansas (6-1), conference leader Stephen F. Austin (1-0), Sam Houston State (1-0) and Southeastern Louisiana (3-2). They are led by sophomore goal keeper Lauren Lovejoy, who currently leads the Southland in total saves with 55.
ACU is 1-1 all time against Lamar. Last year, the Wildcats took a 2-0 win at home, after suffering a 2-1 loss in 2013 in Beaumont.
The Wildcats then travel to Lake Charles, Louisiana to face McNeese State, who has won just one home game all season. The Cowgirls (2-4, 5-7) are 1-4 at home and are coming off a 3-2 win over conference bottom dweller Nicholls State. They will take on Incarnate Word (1-4-1, 3-10-1) at home before facing ACU.
The Wildcats have yet to score against McNeese State, losing both matches against the Cowgirls, 1-0.
