ABILENE, Texas – Abilene Christian scored twice in the first half to defeat Southeastern Louisiana, 2-0, in Southland Conference play Sunday afternoon.

    Southeastern (4-6-1, 1-2-0) out-shot ACU (4-6-1, 3-0-0) 21-11, including 13-5 in the second half, but could not convert.

    "We gave up a goal early and fought to stay in the game," Southeastern head coach Blake Hornbuckle said. "We created opportunities, people made some saves on their end, and we were unable to finish the opportunities we had today. I thought our team played really well. We played with a lot of heart. I'm proud of our effort and we'll get ready for the next two games at home."

    Senior Casey Peacock led the Lady Lions with five shots, one on goal. Sophomore Payton Colson had two of her four attempts on the net. Senior Hope Sabadash made six saves.

    Junior Chloe Fifer and freshman Samantha Vestal each scored their first goals of the season for ACU. Vestal also had a match-high five shots, all on goal. Junior Peyton Bucklew provided the assist on Vestal's goal. Senior Sydney Newton made seven saves for her third shutout of the season.           

    ACU quickly got on the board as Fifer split the defense inside 18 yards and beat Sabadash to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.

    Southeastern tried to answer as freshman Ylva Svendsen had a header saved by Newton in the seventh minute. After senior Amber Lasher had a shot blocked following a Marisa Rodrigues corner 30 seconds later, Newton stopped another attempt by Colson in the 11^th minute.

    Newton saved shots by Colson and Lasher in the 19^th minute. ACU countered with senior Natalie Throneberry missing wide in the 21^st minute. Junior Megan Baer then hit the crossbar in the 25^th minute.

    Sabadash saved a shot by senior Leslie Snider in the 31^st minute. Peacock quickly countered but missed wide on a shot. Peacock was wide again on an attempt in the 36^th minute while Colson missed three minutes later.

    Sabadash stopped an attempt by Vestal in the 42^nd minute. But Vestal lined in a shot from 25 yards out off a pass from Bucklew to give the Wildcats a 2-0 advantage in the final minute of the half.

    Svendsen shot wide in the opening minute of the second half. Senior Alyssa Gerner countered with a shot that was also wide in the 48^th minute. After sophomore Christina Cutura sent a shot high, Colson had an attempt blocked in the 50^th minute.

    Sabadash picked up a save on a shot by sophomore Caity Acosta in the 56^th minute. After Southeastern regained possession, Peacock missed wide in the 62^nd minute. Junior Maddie
    Kresevic had a shot blocked. Cutura followed with a try but had it saved by Newton in the 66^th minute.

    Sabadash denied a try by Vestal in the 68^th minute. After Rodrigues had a shot blocked in the 71^st minute, Sabadash grabbed another save against Vestal in the 75^th minute. The Lady Lions got the ball back before Peacock had an attempt blocked. Sabadash then denied Vestal again in the 78^th minute.

    Southeastern put a flurry of shots on in the final minutes. Lorentz and sophomore Vanessa Arzaluz had shots blocked and Cutura had a shot cleared in front of the net. Newton then saved an attempt by Peacock in the 87^th minute. Arzaluz missed high in the final minute.

    Southeastern returns home Friday to play Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.