The women’s soccer team has a chance to continue its winning streak against a tough pair of out-of-state opponents this weekend.
The team kicks off the weekend in a matchup against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats on Friday night at 5 p.m. The Wildcats then head down to San Antonio to take on the Rollins College Tars. Head Coach Casey Wilson is anticipating the chance to measure the team’s progress, he said.
“Both teams are projected to be very good,” Wilson said. “Southwest Baptist is ranked No. 6 in our region, we are No. 7 and Rollins is ranked No. 11 in the nation.
The Wildcats are strong coming out of the gate. The team started the season with a solid 1-0 win against St. Mary’s and capped its opening weekend with a 1-0 upset against the 14th-ranked Central Missouri Jennies. Wilson said he hopes last weekend’s perfect start is an indicator of how far the team has come.
“Last weekend was a good starting point for us,” Wilson said. “Both games the girls wanted to win, despite any mistakes made during the weekend. The desire to win was there, and that’s important at the start of a season.”
Wildcat soccer is only in its third year but is already developing a reputation as a good program. Southwest Baptist Head Coach Rob Podeyn is impressed with ACU’s soccer program, and looks forward to a good game against ACU on Friday.
“With their location, reputation and recruiting, they can be one of the top programs coming out of Texas and in the region,” Podeyn said.
The Wildcats also face a tough opponent in Rollins College. Regarded as one of the top teams in Division II, the Tars are 2-0 and have not allowed a goal yet this season.
Like the Tars, the Wildcats have shut out every opponent so far this season. The defense gives up goals grudgingly, anchored by goalkeeper Crissy Lawson. Lawson, a senior from San Diego, Calif., has been perfect to this point, an achievement she credits to her teammates and hard work.
“I think it can be attributed to a lot of things,” Lawson said. “Without the defense, there would be a lot more shots. I also think my training during the summer and our two-a-days have helped.”
Lawson is excited about her team’s improvement and expects a bright future.
“I feel like we are making good progress,” Lawson said. “We beat a ranked team, which is a big deal. As long as we keep playing hard there is nowhere to go but up.”
