Purpose-Driven Ladyjacks Set to Face Abilene Christian in Southland Conference Semifinal

Friday, November 3

Corpus Christi, Texas

4:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

#6 Abilene Christian University

Purpose-Driven Ladyjacks Set to Face Abilene Christian in Southland Conference Semifinal

11/2/2017 5:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer

SFA has tied for Southland Conference lead in tournament appearances, with 19

By: Kevin Meyer | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

Friday vs. Abilene Christian
Southland Conference Tournament Semifinals
4:00 p.m | Corpus Christi, Texas | Jack Dugan Stadium
Live stats | Video | 2017 Soccer Media Guide

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In searching for a storyline for Friday afternoons matchup between the Stephen F. Austin women's soccer team and Abilene Christian, it'd be no stretch to suggest the Ladyjacks are looking to avenge a 2-0 defeat suffered at the hands of the Wildcats three weeks ago. There is more at play here for the second-seeded Ladyjacks (12-7 overall), however, as they enter the matchup just two wins away from a Southland Conference Title, a goal that needs no explanation for any team still alive in the tournament.

The sixth-seeded Wildcats (9-10 overall) are a dangerous foe, there is no denying that. On their Senior Day in Abilene three weeks ago, they imposed themselves every which way on the Ladyjacks. In that contest, the Ladyjacks had no answer for the aggressive style in which Abilene came out on a day in which their seniors were recognized and the energy at the Wildcats home field was palpable. Forward Dylan Owens and midfielder Chloe Fifer each had a goal in the game, as ACU outshot the Ladyjacks 18-7 in the contest and dominated every fact of the attack.

"They're going to be a really dynamic team that is going to challenge us in several ways", said SFA head coach Wally Crittenden. "They're going to demand that we possess, they're going to demand that we be organized, and athletically those matchups will demand our physical best. I feel really good about our preparation and our response after playing them a couple weeks ago and how it has matured our team and created a sense of urgency in our soccer."

The performance by SFA was uncharacteristic to say the least, as it was the only time this season that the Ladyjacks were run off the pitch so thoroughly by an opposing squad. An added element of surprise to the result was the slate of games in which it came, as the Ladyjacks played some of their best soccer of the season down the stretch and entered the game on a four-game win streak. Now riding a two-game streak since that loss, capped off with a 4-1 drubbing of rival Sam Houston State in Wednesday's tournament quarterfinal game, ACU is going to face a red-hot SFA squad in Friday's contest. Furthermore, the Wildcats are coming off a grueling shootout victory over third-seeded McNeese on Wednesday after two overtime periods proved inadequate in delivering a winner.

Possession was excellent for the Ladyjacks in Wednesday's win, and that turned into superb passing and execution in the final third, leading to four excellent goals. Senior Hanna Barker made an obvious impression in the game, scoring one goal and drawing a PK that led to another, but Breanna Moore was also deadly up front, and a tremendous strike from left back Carli Arthurs found the net as well. After battling to a near scoreless draw in Huntsville to close out the season, the 'Jacks left nothing up to chance against the Bearkats in the tournament game, even answering SHSU's lone goal with a strike of their own just two minutes later to squash any notion of a comeback effort.

SFA's recent success has been both a balanced and increasingly dangerous attack, and an improving and physical defensive back line, buoyed by strong goalkeeper play from sophomore Allyson Smith. While not having a defender recognized on the All-Conference Teams, SFA nonetheless boasts the stingiest defense in the Southland Conference, and Smith quietly surrendered the fewest goals in conference play during the regular season and posted the most shutouts of any goalkeeper in the league.

That defense will be tested, as it was in Abilene earlier this season, by a high-scoring Wildcats offense, which generated multiple dangerous looks in their quarterfinal matchup with the McNeese Cowgirls, who boasted both the Southland Defender of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year. Owens and Freshman of the Year Christina Arteaga are a lethal tandem on the attack, with Megan Baer and Shay Johnson filling in the gaps with multiple goals apiece. That scoring output has done a good job of covering the Wildcats goalkeeping, which left something to be desired in posting a sub .650 save percentage this season. ACU also posted a shutout in Wednesday's win, although McNeese was without top scorer and Southland Player and Forward of the Year Savannah LaRicci, who sat out the game with a leg injury.

"I'm really excited to play; we're playing good soccer at the moment and we're playing in a shape that suits us better at this point in the season.", added Crittenden. "When you put all of those pieces together, the only thing left is for our kids to be ready to get after it. This is a hungry group and I trust they will be ready to go."

Elsewhere in the tournament, the field proceeded as expected, although the SFA-SHSU opener was the only multi-goal game of the quarterfinal round. Fourth-seeded Central Arkansas bested Houston Baptist on a late goal to win 1-0, while top-seeded Lamar overcame a challenge from host A & M-Corpus Christi to win 1-0 as well. That pits UCA against Lamar in Friday's other contest, with the winner of that game set to face the winner of SFA/ACU in the title game on Sunday.

-SFA-