Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Sports / Soccer sets foundation with historic season
Courtesy of the Southland Conference (Photo by Charlie Blalock)

Soccer sets foundation with historic season

November 8, 2017 by Rachel Poe

The Southland Conference tournament has come to an end and so has the 2017 soccer season for the Wildcats, but it won’t soon be forgotten. This season was one of historic proportions for the Wildcats. Not only was it their first year of Div. 1 postseason play, but they also became the first ACU team to win a Southland Conference postseason tournament game in just their first attempt.

Head coach Casey Wilson said this season continues to build on the foundation the coaching staff and players have worked so hard on building.

“The returning players have a full spectrum of everything, and maybe mentally they’ll even be more prepared for the next year and knowing how close we were [to the championship match].”

After upsetting the No. 3 seed in the tournament in McNeese State in a dramatic shootout, the Wildcats battled till the end against a perennial powerhouse in Stephen F. Austin. ACU was eventually beaten 4-2 in its second shootout in three days, but Wilson said if a few more things would have went their way in that game, his team would’ve been primed for the championship match.

“I think that, you know, otherwise were a couple of penalty kicks and a solid game [against Lamar] away from playing this week, so they knew how close they were so now it’s just a matter of capitalizing the next time they get the opportunity,” Wilson said.

Moving forward the Wildcats will likely be viewed as one of the top conference competitors, but as the Southland Conference to continue to get tougher each Wilson said the team must keep the bar high, and the returners must value the team’s past success but continue to lead the way for the future.

“It is always nice to know that we have a good handful of freshman that have a lot of game experience, because that is important going into next year as opposed to being pretty top heavy, where mostly upperclassmen play,” Wilson said. “That is one thing that we always benefit from is we always have enough impact players coming in as freshman and there veterans by the time they are sophomores.”

Wilson said the team also looks forward to next year’s recruiting class that will bring in more impact players to the program. And if the team continues to compete at a high level, it is likely to see that trend remain.

The Wildcats finish the season with an overall record of 8-10-2 with both ties coming in the Southland Conference Championship and finished as the No. 6 seed in the regular season conference standings, but as a top-four team in the tournament. ACU also defeated SFA in the regular season for the first time in Div. 1 and joined the Lumberjacks to have a winning conference record in each of the last five seasons.  

Filed Under: Sports

Other Sports:

  • Baseball drops falls short in regular season ending series in Huntsville

  • Wildcats season closes after losses to Utah Valley and Seattle

  • Wildcats win final weekend series against SFA, gains 4th seed in WAC tournament

About Rachel Poe

You are here: Home / Sports / Soccer sets foundation with historic season

Other Sports:

  • Baseball drops falls short in regular season ending series in Huntsville

  • Wildcats season closes after losses to Utah Valley and Seattle

  • Wildcats win final weekend series against SFA, gains 4th seed in WAC tournament

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
4 May

"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray:
https://acuoptimist.com/2022/04/not-so-friendly-competition/

Reply on Twitter 1521918832738144257Retweet on Twitter 15219188327381442571Like on Twitter 15219188327381442578Twitter 1521918832738144257
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
3 May

Royce Clough and Jael Morel have been named as Mr. and Miss ACU for the class of 2022, a traditional honor voted on by the student body and awarded to two members of each graduating class.

Reply on Twitter 1521607087553458178Retweet on Twitter 1521607087553458178Like on Twitter 152160708755345817819Twitter 1521607087553458178

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

2 months ago

The Optimist
"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray: ... See MoreSee Less

Not-so-friendly competition - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

BY: LONDYN GRAY “Number 18, you look like you don’t shower!” I chuckled and shrugged it off. “Londyn!” They had looked up the roster. “Do you even brush your teeth?” I laughed again, rol...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 months ago

The Optimist
Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and the Department of Theatre. ... See MoreSee Less

Cullen Auditorium still set for a name change alongside renovations - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and th...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV

The Wildcats’ Western Athletic Conference tournament run and season came to a ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.16.2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.9.2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2022 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved

Posting....