SBU BEARCATS at ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 • 5:00 PM
ACU SOCCER STADIUM • ABILENE, TEXAS

SBU BEARCATS at DALLAS BAPTIST LADY PATRIOTS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 • 7:00 PM
PATRIOT FIELD • DALLAS, TEXAS

SBU NOTES | ACU NOTES | DBU SITE

ABILENE, Texas -- The SBU Bearcats continue on their season-opening four-game road trip, this weekend heading southwest, as they face off against two teams from the state of Texas. The Bearcats are hoping to build on the two-game winning streak they've built after last weekend's games against Quincy and Missouri S&T. Freshman goalkeeper Megan Link has looked great in her debut, only allowing one goal over two games. Shannon Roher and Jaymye Ross have started out strong as well, each scoring a goal in the early season.

Even though SBU was picked to finish only fifth in the pre-season coaches poll, the Bearcats find themselves atop the MIAA standings, tied with Northwest MIssouri State, with identical 2-0 records. Although it's still early, the two Bearcat squads are the only teams still currently unbeaten.

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Bearcat head coach Rob Podeyn sets his SBU career off on the right foot, coming away with two early wins; Podeyn comes to Bolivar after running the NAIA's Northwood University women's soccer program since 2006.

Abilene Christian head coach Casey Wilson is the young program's only head coach in its history. The 2009 season marks his third year in Abilene, and this is his first matchup against the Bearcats. Last season, Wilson's Wildcats had their first winning season in school history, at 9-8-2, and earned a berth in the Lone Star Conference post-season tournament, where they made a run to the championship game, before falling to West Texas A&M, 1-0.

Michelle Lenard is preparing for her second year as head coach of the Dallas Baptist Lady Patriots. In just her first season, she led Dallas Baptist to a 9-9-1 record, earning a third place finish in the Heartland Conference. Dallas Baptist holds a 2-0 all-time record against SBU, but the two sides haven't met since 2000.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS & LADY PATRIOTS
The Wildcats have a big wave of momentum behind them, after arguably the biggest win in their program's history. ACU defeated No. 14 ranked Central Missouri, 1-0. The game's lone goal came from freshman Julie Coppedge, and it proved to be enough. Abilene Christian followed through against St. Mary's on Sunday, August 30, winning by a 1-0 score once again.

Dallas Baptist also kicked off their season with a victory, defeating Texas Woman's University, 4-2. Sophomore forward Brittany Layne came up big for the Lady Patriots, scoring a goal and assisting on two others.