The Lowdown: No. 3-seed Mid-America Christian University vs. No. 2-seed Houghton College
Time: Dec. 3 @ 6:30 p.m. (CST)
Location: Austin Tindall Park, Kissimmee, Fla.
Live Video:
What's at stake: The winner of tomorrow's match will win Pool B and earn a berth in the NCCAA National Tournament championship game Saturday afternoon (Dec. 5) at 2 p.m. (CST)
The Dish on the Lady Evangels: The second-seeded Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels are one win away from their first-ever berth in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national championship match. MACU started 0-3 this season but have rebounded nicely to a 12-8-1 overall record and their second consecutive NCCAA central regional title. The Lady Evangels edged Warner University 2-1 in double-overtime in their opening pool match and then routed Columbia International University 6-0 last night (Dec. 1).
Kaci Power leads the Lady Evangels with 17 goals and Cici Mitchell has scored 11 times with a team-high five assists. Kaitlyn Whitten has recorded 125 saves in the net this season with a solid 1.39 goals-against average.
The Dish on the Highlanders: The second-seeded Houghton College Highlanders are 14-6-2 this season and have yet to be scored on in their two NCCAA pool play wins. Houghton blanked Columbia International 4-0 in their opener and shut out Warner 5-0 last night (Dec. 1).
Sarah Gabriele is pacing Highlanders with 11 goals along with six assists this season. Darlene Eckhardt has also recorded six assists. Shawna Sprout has stopped 77 shots at goalkeeper for the Highlanders with a 0.77 goals-against-average.
The Series: Tomorrow night's big match will be the first meeting between the two schools.
The Coaches:
Zach Bice enters his 10th year as head coach of the men's and women's soccer programs and sixth as co-head coach with Evan Dresel. Bice was also recently named Assistant Athletic Director at MACU.
Last season, Bice guided the women's soccer Lady Evangels to 13 victories and their first NCCAA Central Regional championship that led to their first appearance in the NCCAA National Tournament. The 13 wins are the second most for the program since joining the NAIA.
The 2013 season saw both squads have success, as the Men's Soccer Evangels captured their first National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Regional Championship since 2009 to advance to the NCCAA National Tournament.
Bice also oversaw a historic offensive breakout season for the Lady Evangels in 2013, as Chelsea Swisher scored a school single-season record 52 points to fuel a team single-season mark of 136 points.
Bice also helped guide the Men's Soccer Evangels to an 11 win season in 2013, equaling their most victories since joining the NAIA in 2008.
In 2012, Bice guided the Men's Soccer Evangels to their best season since joining the NAIA, including qualifying for the Sooner Athletic Conference for the first time in school history. He also helped the Lady Evangels make their third straight appearance in the SAC Postseason Tournament, including a landmark 2-1 OT victory over then No. 4-ranked Oklahoma City University. The loss was OCU's only setback until the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
Following the historic 2010 campaign, Bice kept the Lady Evangels in the top half of the conference with 12 victories and a second straight appearance in the SAC Tournament.
In 2010, Bice helped the Lady Evangels win a school-record 16 matches along with their best ever finish of third in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Lady Evangels defeated Oklahoma Baptist 2-0 to advance to SAC tournament semifinals, before a hard-fought 2-1 loss at John Brown. Bice has also led the men's soccer squad to three straight NCCAA Central Regional appearances.
Evan Dresel is in his ninth season with the MACU soccer programs and sixth year as co-head coach of both the men's and women's soccer squads.
Last season, Dresel helped the Lady Evangels to their first NCCAA Central Regional championship and their first-ever berth to the NCCAA National Tournament. The women's soccer Lady Evangels also won 13 games in 2014, their second most as an NAIA school.
Dresel helped both programs to successful 2013 campaigns, leading the Men's Soccer Evangels to their first National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Regional championship since 2009 after equaling their most victories (11) and conference wins (4) since joining the NAIA.
He also coached a record setting offensive year for the Lady Evangels that saw Chelsea Swisher set the single-season record for points (52) and the unit score a team record 136 points in 2013.
In 2012, Dresel led the Men's Soccer Evangels to their best season since joining the NAIA, including their first ever appearance in the Sooner Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament. He also helped the Lady Evangels advance to the SAC Tournament for the third straight season that featured a milestone victory over then No. 4-ranked and previously undefeated Oklahoma City University. It would be OCU's last loss until a setback in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
In 2011, Dresel helped keep the Lady Evangels in the top half of the league with 12 victories and second consecutive berth in the SAC Tournament.
Dresel was instrumental last season in helping the Lady Evangels win a school-record 16 matches along with their best ever finish of third in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Dresel also helped guide the men's soccer squad to their third straight NCCAA Central Regional berth and an appearance in the regional semifinals with a resounding 6-0 win over Southwestern Assemblies of God in the quarterfinal round.
David Lewis is in his 25th season at the helm of Houghton College. Lewis' accomplishments include guiding the Highlanders to 12 NAIA National Tournament berths and a pair of NCCAA National Tournament appearances. Lewis was the winningest coach in NAIA women's soccer history prior to Houghton becoming an NCAA D-III program.
Up Next: A victory would put the Lady Evangels into the NCCAA national championship match Saturday afternoon (Dec. 5) at 2 p.m. (CST) against the winner of Pool A.
