Scottsdale, Ariz. - Hope International University (6-6-1, 1-4-0 GSAC) earned its first Golden State Athletics Conference victory of the season by a 1-0 score over Arizona Christian University (3-7-1, 0-5-0 GSAC), Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Scottsdale Sports Complex. ACU has lost its last five matches and has been held scoreless six times this season.
ACU takes on Westmont College (8-3-1, 4-1-0), which ranks 15th in the Oct. 9 NAIA Top 25 National Coaches poll, on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Scottsdale Christian Academy in Phoenix, at 11:30 a.m.
Much to ACU's credit and demonstrating what a difference a year of recruiting, hard work, and improvement can bring about - ACU lost 13-0 to Hope International during the 2011 season, but by contrast, actually had an opportunity for a tying goal in the second half of their 2012 match.
The Royals outshot the Firestorm by a 15-3 margin, and led 8-1 in shots on goal and 7-1 in corner kicks. ACU's freshman Sydney Roller-Sotak (Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert H.S.) saved seven shots on goal, four in the second half.
Freshman forward Allyssa Stencil tallied her second goal of the season unassisted at the 26:18 mark of the first half, lifting a high lob shot over Roller-Sotak from 35 yards out and to the left of the goal. HIU attempted just one more shot on goal and one corner kick in the last 18:42 of the first 45-minute half. In the second half, the Royals attempted four shots on goal but just one corner kick.
Sophomore midfielder Chelsea Ruland, ACU's career scoring leader with 17 goals and four assists in her first 22 collegiate matches, attempted ACU's only shot on goal in the second half, but winning goalkeeper Sofia Pacino made her only save of the match on the play, keeping ACU from tying the score at 1-1. Roller-Sotak saved all four of the HIU shots that she faced in the second half.
