The women’s soccer season has started, and the Wildcats are hoping for a successful season with second year Head Coach Stephen Salas.
Salas coached the Wildcats to a 7-9-2 record last season, which was one spot short of a place in the Western Athletic Conference tournament. Since ACU will host the WAC tournament this season, Salas hopes to make it and have the support of Wildcat fans at Elmer Gray Stadium.
“There’s a lot of motivation around it, and we’ve just been telling the girls to trust the process and to keep our eyes on the goal,” Salas said. “We’re aiming for a top four finish in the regular season, the top six teams make it. Yes, we could aim for first, but we just want to be realistic of where we’re at.”
Salas brought in his first recruiting class this offseason which includes forwards Raegan Hollis from Wylie and Raelin Miller from Winter Park, Florida, midfielder Amelia Miller from Winter Park, Florida and defender Gracie Kelly from Carona, California. Salas believes all four freshmen will make big impacts this season.
“In the past couple of games, three of the four have started, and all four have gotten playing time,” Salas said. “Our most prolific one has been Gracie Kelly, who stepped in at the center back position and played at a high level.”
The team is returning key players Peyton Hill, redshirt sophomore forward from Laguna Niguel, California, and Amelia Leggett, junior forward from Wylie. Hill and Leggett were two of the top scorers on the team last year, scoring a combined 14 points.
Another key contributor who will be a leader for this team is Chayse Thorn, senior forward from Rowlett. Thorn was named to the preseason All-WAC team, recognizing the leadership and skill that she brings to the team.
“For Chayse, it’s being a leader by demonstration,” Salas said. “We just have her go out and play to the best of her ability and trust the process.”
The Wildcats tied against University of Texas at El Paso 0-0 on Aug. 17, and they were scheduled to play Lamar University last Thursday.
The Wildcats will face three opponents that made the NCAA tournament last year, including Mississippi State, University of Texas at San Antonio and University of North Texas. A key matchup for the Wildcats will be Mississippi State, which is one of the top programs in the country going into the season.
“We’re going into it with the mindset and mentality that we’re going to win,” Salas said. “The girls are excited about it, but at the same time we’re focusing on game by game. My biggest vision is to create a top 15 program at the mid-major level, and this is going to be a gauge of where we’re at.”
The Wildcats will play their next home game on Sept. 15 against UNT at 1 p.m.
