The Abilene Christian University women's soccer team will open its 2026 campaign on Saturday evening in Shreveport, Louisiana, facing Jackson State University at 7 p.m. The neutral‑site showdown marks the first test of a roster that returns twelve players from a season that ended with a 0‑0 home draw against Texas State and a berth in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Coach Stephen Salas Looks to Build on Momentum
In his fourth year at the helm, Coach Stephen Salas has guided the Wildcats to their first appearance in the Western Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament since 2021. Under his direction, goalkeeper Bella Medrano earned second‑team All‑WAC honors with 109 saves and three shutouts, while junior forward Shakira Kafero‑Roberts, a London native, contributed two game‑winning goals.
The returning core includes five regular starters — Medrano, defenders Katy Gregson and Gracie Kelly, midfielder Baylie Simon, and Kafero‑Roberts — giving the team continuity and depth. Their experience should help ACU navigate an 18‑game schedule that features ten home contests at Elmer Gray Stadium in Abilene.
A Tough Road Ahead in the United Athletic Conference
The Wildcats will meet new conference rivals such as Little Rock, Central Arkansas, Austin Peay, North Alabama, Eastern Kentucky and West Georgia, while retaining only Tarleton State from the previous WAC lineup. Early non‑conference fixtures include matches against New Mexico State, UTEP, Houston and East Texas A&M before a senior day clash with Texas Southern on September 20.
Historically, ACU has avoided defeats in season‑opening games since 2022, posting a 1‑0 win at Lamar in 2023 and a 1‑0 victory at UTEP in 2025, and a 0‑0 tie in 2024. The team hopes to extend that streak as it seeks to translate early‑season dominance into a sustained push for conference supremacy.