Soccer gets back on track, wins 3-0 over ACU
Meagan Sullivan | Senior Staff Photographer
Alex Lessard | Staff Writer
In a lopsided affair, the Mean Green (4-1) defeated Abilene Christian University (1-4-1) by a score of 3-0.
The North Texas front line got off to a quick start. Junior forwards Rachel Holden and Marchelle Davis each had opportunities in the first seven minutes but had their shots saved at the net.
Shortly after in the 12th minute, senior midfielder Karla Pineda put in her first goal of the season on a penalty kick after a hard foul on Holden to put the Mean Green up 1-0.
“Every game this season, we’ve been outplayed in the first half, so [intensity] was definitely a focal point” assistant coach Daniel Dobson said. “We worked on it all week in practice.”
An aggressive North Texas squad attacked again in the 19th minute, as senior defender Molly Grisham scored on a header from a free kick assist by Pineda. Pineda said the increased intensity helped the team play at their best.
“The first couple of games, we didn’t have chemistry,” Pineda said. “We didn’t play like we’re capable of playing.”
Going into the half ahead in shots (12-2) and corner kicks (3-1), ACU came out firing with two shots on goal in a four-minute span, both saved by senior goalkeeper Jackie Kerestine. Kerestine earned her third shutout of the season.
The Mean Green added an insurance goal in the 84th minute off the foot of Holden into the bottom left corner of the net. Holden caught the ricochet after ACU failed to secure a shot by senior midfielder Lindsey Hulstein, giving Hulstein her first assist.
“Even with the subs we had, everyone contributed today,” Holden said.
North Texas finished the game with 20 shots, 12 of which were on goal. Dobson said in order to continue recent success, keeping the intensity level up is crucial.
“If we play like that [every game], we’ll be a hard team to beat,” Dobson said.
The Mean Green will square off against the University of Houston in its next game at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Denton.
Featured Image: File Photo Meagan Sullivan | Senior Staff Photographer
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