The Wildcats took a two-game road trip over the weekend to face North Alabama and Arkansas-Pine Bluff and was victorious in both matches.
They faced North Alabama Friday evening. The Lions were the nation’s top offense averaging 3.8 goals per game heading into the match.
ACU scored their first goal within the first seven minutes of the match. Senior forward Dylan Owens took control of the ball on the left side and struck it into the back of the net from 18 yards away.
The second goal of the match came later in the first half, when junior midfielder/defender Brooke Lenz sent a floater to the left side, where her teammate junior forward Samantha Vestal was there for a header, earning her first goal of the season.
This would prove to be enough as the Wildcats closed the game with a 2-0 win.
Vestal said she was happy to help her team to victory with an insurance goal.
“To score against the top scoring team in the nation felt great,” Vestal said. “I was more excited than surprised when I scored my header. It was like my stomach dropped as I was waiting for it to fall in the net.”
The Wildcats had Saturday off, but returned to action Sunday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
ACU held a 25-6 shot attempt record and led 7-1 in corner kicks. Sophomore goalie Erin Smith started in the net for most of the game, but sophomore goalie Haleigh Heath replaced her midway through the second half.
The team scored twice each half, starting with senior midfielder/forward Sophie Standifer, scoring her first goal of the season in the 28th minute. She was also assisted by sophomore midfielder/forward Christina Arteaga and Owens.
Standifer said she was ecstatic to get her first goal back from an ACL surgery.
“I was so happy with that goal,” Standifer said. “It was great to have that feeling again.”
Three minutes later, Arteaga scored her third goal of the season and ACU led 2-0 at halftime.
Coming into the second half, ACU played almost identical as they did in the first half. Senior defender/midfielder Caity Acosta scored her first goal of the season in the 55th minute.
The last goal of the game was scored by redshirt freshman forward Emily Heidman, when she took a pass from senior midfielder/forward Hannah O’Donnell, and put it in the back of the net. It was Heidman’s first goal of her career.
ACU put Arkansas-Pine Bluff away for a final score of 4-0. After the two wins, the team is now 5-2 overall and 2-2 on the road.
The Wildcats will open Southland Conference play with a third straight away game Friday against Houston Baptist at 7 p.m.
