The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Sports / Wildcats fail to gain first WAC win on West Coast series
Lily Foster, senior goalie from Coeur d'Alenea, Idaho, punts the ball across the field. (Photo by Daniel Curd)

Wildcats fail to gain first WAC win on West Coast series

October 20, 2022 by Kaylee Kahn

The Wildcats recently met with Grand Canyon and California Baptist this past weekend on the road, ending in a loss and tie.

On Friday, ACU headed to Pheonix, Arizona to take on Grand Canyon for the first time this season, ending in a loss, 2-4.

“It can be a cruel game,” head coach Casey Wilson said. “Especially when it comes to finishing chances. Our team just needs to get out there and get hot.”

Grand Canyon started off strong from the very beginning. Within the first two minutes, Gianna Gourley made a quick move to secure the goal, putting GCU up 1-0. Less than seven minutes later, Leah Pirro was able to sink another goal in the net, with an assist from Gianna Gourley, to give the Lopes a breakaway, 2-0.

The Lopes would then go on to score two more goals, putting the Wildcats behind 4-0 with a minute into the second half. It was not until the last four minutes of the game that the Wildcats finally started to click together. Chayse Thorn, sophomore forward from Rowlett, was able to take the ball all the way to the goal and secure her fifth goal of the season. Not even a minute later, with an assist from Jordan Michie, senior forward from Arlington, Thorn was able to take another goal for the Wildcats, leaving a 2-4 game.

Despite the gap in the score and between shot attempts 10-20, the Wildcats were not far behind the Lopes in shots on goal, 6-8.

On Sunday, the Wildcats then headed to Riverside, California to take on California Baptist, where both teams were unable to score, ending in a 0-0 tie.

“It’s just a matter of being able to measure up and take away our chances,” Wilson said. “It’s just a matter of us playing clean up and down the field.”

With there being no goals by both teams, their aggressive offense did not stop. CBU put up 19 shot attempts to ACU, putting eight of those on goal, causing Lily Foster to tally her second-highest total of the season with eight saves.

The Wildcats had 10 shot attempts on the Lancers but were shut down to only having four of those shots placed on the goal. Both ACU and CBU tied 4-4 in corner kicks, resulting in both of them missing the gain.

With the new regular conference play rule on ties, this is the fourth time this season the Wildcats have ended in a tie. This season is the most times ACU has tied in one season.

“It’s just making a tweak here and there,” Wilson said. “Decisions you make anywhere on the field can affect the backline but I think overall our backline has been very solid, especially the goalkeeping.”

ACU stays at home this weekend for a two-game series. The Wildcats will take on Utah Valley Friday at 7 p.m. and Seattle U Sunday at 12 p.m. in Elmer Gray Stadium, streaming on WAC International.

Filed Under: Sports

Other Sports:

  • Out with the WAC, in with the UAC

  • Women’s golf drives for success despite young mid-major status

  • More than money: FBS games bring in revenue, impact program

About Kaylee Kahn

Junior journalism major from Wichita Falls, Tx

You are here: Home / Sports / Wildcats fail to gain first WAC win on West Coast series

Other Sports:

  • Out with the WAC, in with the UAC

  • Women’s golf drives for success despite young mid-major status

  • More than money: FBS games bring in revenue, impact program

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
26 Jun

The United Athletic Conference is officially taking the place of the Western Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 athletic year. The UAC is a joint football effort between the WAC and the ASUN but will now extend to all sports. #acuoptimist #acuathletics #wac #uac

Reply on Twitter 1938240320854008109 Retweet on Twitter 1938240320854008109 2 Like on Twitter 1938240320854008109 7 Twitter 1938240320854008109
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

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

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

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

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved