SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State soccer team hits the road for the fifth time this season with a pair of games at Abilene Christian and Midwestern State this weekend.
The Rambelles (7-5-1, 5-3-1 LSC) take a two-game winning streak into Abilene for a 4 p.m. game against the Wildcats (4-8-1, 2-6-1 LSC) on Friday before playing at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Midwestern State (3-7-3, 3-3-3 LSC). ASU, which had a 1-1 tie with MSU and a 1-0 win over ACU in the first meetings, will be looking for its first three-game winning streak this season after having a pair of two-game streaks snapped.
Angelo State enters the weekend in third place in the Lone Star Conference standings after earning wins of Texas Woman's and Texas A&M-Commerce last weekend at the ASU Soccer Field. The Rambelles are 2-2 in road conference games while ACU is 2-1 at home and MSU is 0-4-1 in Wichita Falls.
“The key for us is the consistency in our defending,” Angelo State head coach McCorkle said. “Whether it's in the midfield or the back-four, it has been a consistent year where we are in the games because of our defending. Teams are not pulling away from us even when we have lacked scoring because of our defense. I think our set pieces have been improving and we are getting goals from them this year.”
ASU's defense leads the conference with a 1.08 overall goals allowed mark, while it is tied with Midwestern State with a .089 average in conference-only games. Abilene Christian is allowing 1.56 goals per game in conference while it is scoring a goal per game in conference. ASU is averaging 1.08 goals per game but is coming off its first three-goal game of the year which included two goals from freshman
Lauren Bateman and a goal from senior
Hanna Horeis.
Bateman leads the team with three goals after her two goals while Horeis continues to lead in shots with 38.
Lauren Carnes leads the team with five goals, including the assists in Horeis' goal.
Katie Squires,
Maggie Schaffer and
Sierra Anderson all have two goals, while goalkeeper Danielle Edwards has made 49 saves for the Rambelles.
Abilene Christian, which won the LSC regular-season championship last season and advanced to the NCAA Division Elite Eight, has struggled this season but are coming off a big 3-0 win over Eastern New Mexico. Andrea Carpenter leads ACU with three goals this season, while goalkeeper Arielle Moncure has made 60 saves (4.62 per game).
“They got a big win last weekend that has the capability to help their confidence,” McCorkle said. “There were moments the first time we played them that they had the advantage, but for the most part I felt like we were able to put them on their heels. We're going to have to do that again. I expect us to play well and it is important to get sweeps of teams if you're trying to climb the standings. We aren't looking past them.”
The Mustangs are coming off mixed weekend where they dropped a 2-1 decision to ENMU before toppling conference-leading West Texas A&M 4-1. MSU, which won the conference tournament last season, received an Ashley Cottrell goal as time in regulation expired to tie the first game against the Rambelles. Cottrell leads the Mustangs with four goals this season with Payton Fookes adding three and goalkeeper Mallory Whitworth recording 54 saves.
“I really hope that our team comes out with a strong desire to get those points back that we let slip away,” McCorkle said. “It's going to be difficult in front of their crowd, but I thought that we matched up well with them. If we keep playing like we have been playing then I think we will be in position to get points against them.”
Angelo State returns home after this weekend's games with their final two regular season games of the season. The Rambelles host Eastern New Mexico on Friday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. and then play West Texas A&M on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. The game against the Lady Buffs will be senior day for
Lauren Carnes,
Hanna Horeis,
Karli Maxey,
Kat Monroe and Danielle Edwards.
Angelo State vs. TWU Gallery
