Box Score  
FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University women's soccer team (1-1) gave NCAA Division I Southland Conference Abilene Christian University (2-2) a scare before falling 2-1 in overtime at Martin Field on Sunday.
 
On a hot sunny day that featured mandatory water breaks in both the first and second half, Abilene Christian was able to distribute minutes to 19 different players.  Meanwhile the Rams used only three substitutes in the contest.
 
The Lady Rams stayed right with the Wildcats throughout the contest.  In the 38th minute, Brianna Wilson played the ball into the box where Kaitlin Bush finished from close range to give Texas Wesleyan a 1-0 advantage.  Nikki Lockwood made a pair of saves to hold the score there at halftime.
 
The Rams created quality chances early in the second half.  Three minutes into the period Sandra Villarreal served from the left wing into the box, but just missed connecting for a strike.  In the 52nd minute, Lauren Kee found herself in a battle for the ball with ACU goalkeeper Sydney Newton.  Kee was able to get the ball to Alexis Michaelkovich on the near right wing with Newton out of position, but Michelkovich's shot sailed high and wide.
 
The Wildcat offense picked up as they used fresh legs to outshoot the Rams 12-3 in the second half.  In the 59th minute, ACU's Emily Sumrall found Lindsey Jones who finished a game-tying goal.
 
In the 66th minute Villarreal had a one-on-one opportunity with Newton, but the ACU keeper was up to the task.  Lockwood came up with four more saves in the second half, and the game rolled into overtime tied 1-1.
 
The Wildcats came out firing in the extra period.  Chloe Fifer hit the cross bar in the 91st minute and again in the 93rd minute.  Just as the game settled down, Fifer struck a free kick from the far right wing that found Baylee Mitchell with a clean shot for the game-winning goal.
 
"It was a tough day made even tougher by being shorthanded," commented head coach Josh Gibbs.  "That said, I couldn't be more satisfied with the performance from our players today.  We had our chances to score a second.  It just didn't happen for us today.  ACU is a very well coached, organized team, and they gave us all we could handle.  I'm so proud of the response from our players.  This is easily one of the best games in our program's history.  The Ladies gave everything they had and then some."
 
For the game, the Wildcats outshot the Rams 24-9 although they led just 8-5 in shots on goal.  ACU also led 4-1 in corner kicks.  The Rams were whistled for 11 fouls to ACU's 3.  Lockwood made six saves, while Newton made four stops for the Wildcats.
 
The Rams will return to action on Friday, when they host Texas A&M Texarkana at Martin Field.  That game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.