Glendale, Ariz.- The Lady Firestorm's four-game win streak came to a screeching halt on Thursday night, being outshot 20-7 and losing 3-0 in a GSAC contest against Hope International. Alyssa Mercado accounted for two of ACU's three shots on target, but they could not get on the scoreboard. Tayler Wonderly executed some excellent saves throughout, yet offensive struggles hampered even the strongest of efforts. 

Score: Arizona Christian 0, Hope International 3
Records: Arizona Christian 8-3-1 (3-1-0) | Hope International  8-2-2 (2-0-1)
Location: ACU Football Field - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Alyssa Mercado - 3 shots, 2 on goal
Cami Mercado - 3 shots, 1 on goal
Jayme Notgrass - 1 shot
Tayler Wonderly - 7 saves

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

The early shot differential favored the Firestorm, Alyssa Mercado firing off the first two shots of the match with one on target in the 10th minute. Tayler Wonderly, in her fourth start at goalie, was given her first scare on the very next possession as HIU's Sarah Ralston directed a hard-hit ball into the goal post. 

The Royals outshot the Firestorm 5-2 after this opening sequence, but neither team could capitalize on their shot chances. Ryley Candelario recorded HIU's only shot on goal in the first period, while Mercado had her second in the closing minutes of the first half. No blood was shed, as a 0-0 tie was the score after the first period.

Out of the break, HIU seemed to have made the right adjustments, as they pressured Tayler Wonderly and the ACU defense almost immediately. Wonderly survived two on-target shots by the Royals, but Ashlyn Edwards exposed a weakness and set up her teammate Ralston for the go-ahead goal in the 51st minute. 

Cami Mercado's first shot on target was sandwiched between four additional Wonderly saves (two on each side). Things finally settled for ACU after getting peppered with shot after shot, but they still could not find an answer on the offensive end. 

A few touches after a free kick by Alyssa Mercado, HIU's Emma Viayra sent a ball over the top of the Firestorm back line and found Edwards some space. Edwards won a one-on-one foot race and paid it off with the Royal's second goal in the 85th minute. Less than two minutes transpired, when Edwards became the provider and served a ball to Olga Luna for a 3-0 lead. That margin would hold, keeping ACU off the scoreboard for just the second time in 2023.

NEXT MATCH

The Lady Firestorm only play one game next week as well, this being a road match against Life Pacific (1-8) on Saturday, October 21st. Kickoff comes at 7:00 PM, as ACU seeks out a fourth GSAC win in five games when taking on the Warriors. Follow the action with live stats at https://www.lpuwarriors.com/sports/wsoc/2023-24/boxscores/20231021_2l8w.xml and watch the game at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/. 


Roll Storm!