The Wildcats opened up their first home game at Elmer Grey Stadium with a 2-0 win over the Lady Mustangs of Southwest University. The Wildcats are now 3-0 for the first time as a Div. I member.

Junior forward Christina Arteaga scored a goal in each half. The first goal came just five minutes into the game. She took a pass from senior forward Samantha Vestal and struck the ball just passed the keeper, making the score 1-0.

It was not until the 68th minute until Arteaga scored her second goal of the night when freshman midfielder Natalie Jones had her shot saved. The ball deflected off of the keeper’s hands, and Arteaga was able to get a foot on the ball and in the back of the net.

Arteaga said her hard work is finally showing and starting to pay off as she had 11 shot attempts, marking her new career high.  

“I feel really good,” Arteaga said, “and have been practicing my shots on my own and it shows.”

The Wildcats had a total of 35 shots, 17 of them came from the first half. Southwest finished with 15 saves from freshman goalkeeper Andrea Martinez.

Junior goalkeeper Erin Smith finished with five saves in Friday night’s game. Once again, ACU won the battle with corner kicks, 8-2, and held a 6-1 advantage in the second half.

This was the second time that ACU and Southwest met, the first time since the 2007 season when Abilene Christian was still part of the NCAA Div. II. 

Arteaga expects nothing less from the Wildcats when the head over to play Texas A&M in College Station on Sunday.

“I expect us to come and try and score on them and not necessarily sit back,” Arteaga said. “They are a bigger team and better team, but I think we are going to fight and give it all.”   

The Wildcats will head to College Station to play the Texas A&M Aggies on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.