The Wildcats opened up their last two home games of the season with a match against Stephen F. Austin State University on Friday night. The Wildcats battled the Ladyjacks to the end, taking the game to double-overtime. 

In the 104th minute, senior Shay Johnson teamed up with junior captain Christina Arteaga on the 12th corner kick of the night. Arteaga placed the ball perfectly in the box and Johnson nailed it into the back of the net, ending the game as a 1-0 win over SFA.

ACU outshout the Ladyjacks 36-12, including 19-8 shots on goal. The SFA goalkeeper, Madeline Talbot, had a total of 18 saves.

Redshirt senior goalkeeper Rachel Johnson tied Elliott London for the most saves in the program with 12. It is the fifth shutout of 2019 for the Wildcats. Johnson had a total of eight saves. 

ACU led the corner kicks, 12-5, with the 12th being the most important. 

Arteaga recorded a career-high for 13 shot attempts. Redshirt sophomore Emily Heideman and freshman Caylen Wright each had six shots, while Johnson had three. The 36 shot attempts tie a season-high for ACU and ranks in third in program history for shots in a single game. 

ACU called six fouls and SFA called for five. 

It was also the coldest game of the season with the temperature and wind chill being at 41 degrees. 

Friday night’s game was also the “Go Pink” game, where the Wildcats honored freshman Estefany Herandez’s mother, Irma Hernadez, senior Peighton Starch’s mother, Kathy Strach, and senior Brooke Lenz’s mother, Kimberley Lenz as well as all the survivors and those who have or are battling breast cancer. 

Casey Wilson, head coach, is pleased with Friday’s game outcome. 

“Overall, we did a great job and created a lot of opportunities,” Casey said. “We had our share of breakdowns but we also did a good job of maintaining our focus and making sure we all covered for each other defensively the entire game.”