Conway – The Central Arkansas women's soccer team looks to continue their hot start to the conference season this weekend, hosting two of the top five teams in the Southland Conference at the Stephens Complex this week. The Bears will host Incarnate Word at 7:00 PM on Friday night, before welcoming Abilene Christian at 1:00 PM on Sunday afternoon.

Central Arkansas (8-3-0, 3-0-0 SLC) currently sits in a three-way tie atop the Southland. The Bears currently feature the third-most potent offense in the league, averaging 2.18 goals per game, and combine that with the stingiest defense in the SLC, allowing just 0.72 goals per game. Central Arkansas features a trio of players in the top-10 in the Southland in points, with sophomore Ashley Smith (6 goals, 2 assists) ranking fourth, sophomore Camille Bassett (5 goals, 2 assists) ranking fifth, and junior Alex Moore (3 goals, 5 assists) tied for seventh. Smith is tied for the league lead in goal and Bassett is tied for fifth, while Moore is tied for second in assists. In goal, the Bears continue to be dominant, with junior Anna Hughes leading the league in goals against average (0.36) and save percentage (.882) and sophomore Lauren Mercuri ranking fifth (1.06 GAA) and third (.833%) in the same categories.

Incarnate Word (3-5-1, 2-1-0 SLC) currently fifth in the Southland and ranks fifth in the league in goals against average, allowing 1. 58 goals per game, but the Cardinals offense has managed just 0.88 goals per game, good for ninth in the league. The Cardinals are led by a trio of players who have all found the net twice this season, in sophomores Sam Batley and Emani Stewart and freshman Brooke Hanson. In goal, sophomore Sydney Huntsinger is allowing 1.74 goals per game while turning in a save percentage of .732. She has made 30 saves on the year. Central Arkansas holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series with the Cardinals, with the Bears earning a 2-0 win in San Antonio, Texas last season.

Abilene Christian (4-6-1, 3-0-0 SLC) also sits atop the Southland, tied with Central Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin with nine points apiece. The Wildcats sit in the middle of the pack in the league statistically, ranking sixth with an average of 1.64 goals per game and seventh with a GAA of 1.78. Junior Chloe Fifer leads the Southland with seven assists on the season, while six players have scored twice. In goal, the Wildcats feature one of the best keepers in the league in senior Sydney Newton, who ranks second in save percentage (.854) and GAA (0.86) while sitting fifth in saves (41). ACU holds a 2-0-1 lead over the Bears in the all-time series, thanks to a 1-0 win in Abilene last season.