CONWAY, Ark. - Abilene Christian defeated EKU, 3-1, in the 2026 UAC Women's Soccer Championship final on Saturday to claim its first-ever conference tournament championship and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. 

The Wildcats took command early with a goal in the fifth minute by Amelia Miller. Aliyah Anderson scored the eventual match-winning goal in the 37th minute and gave ACU a 2-0 lead heading into the half. After conceding a goal in the 53rd to EKU's Emma Wolf, the Wildcats responded back with their third goal of the match in the 73rd minute by Shakira Kafero-Roberts.

Abilene Christian's Gracie Kelly was named the Championship Most Valuable Player for her performances in the semifinals and the championship match where she played a full 90 minutes in both matches and anchored an ACU backline that allowed just one goal throughout the tournament.

The Wildcats now await the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Selection Show on Monday, November 16 at 4 p.m. ET to see who they will face in the first round in the NCAA Tournament.

All-Tournament Team
Gracie Kelly, D, Abilene Christian (Championship MVP)
Shakira Kafero-Roberts, F, Abilene Christian
Bella Medrano, GK, Abilene Christian
Baylie Simon, D, Abilene Christian
Jordan LeVasseur, GK, EKU
Chiara Premoli, M, EKU
Juliet Strange, D, EKU
Rylie Bloomfield, GK, Tarleton State
Adelaide Wyrzynski, M/F, Tarleton State
Lilly Ford, D, North Alabama
Adelyn Speight, D, North Alabama