BETHANY, Okla. – The Mid-America Christian University women's soccer team entered play on Saturday looking for a bounce-back performance after a tough loss at Oklahoma City University on Tuesday night. Junior forward Brittney Stephens provided just such a performance.
Stephens scored twice in the match, including her sixth game-winning goal of the season, as MACU (9-3, 4-2 SAC) outlasted Southwestern Christian (4-11, 1-7 SAC), 2-1.
Stephens opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with her 17th goal of the season, breaking a scoreless deadlock with an unassisted tally, and at intermission, MACU held a 1-0 lead. Southwestern Christian pulled even in the 56th minute when Valerie Garcia scored off a pass from Paula Pebacini to tie the score, and as the match would toward the final moments, it appeared as if overtime was on the horizon. Instead, in the 80th minute, Allyson Pamplin found Stephens again, and Stephens cashed in her 18th goal of the season to give MACU the 2-1 lead, and the Lady Evangels made it stand up for the 2-1 win.
Jennifer Starwalt (7-2) earned the win in goal, making seven saves and yielding only one goal in 90 minutes of work. Ashlynn Haylett (2-7) made 13 saves in the loss.
MACU will return home for their final three matches of 2017, beginning on Tuesday afternoon. The Lady Evangels will host Southwestern Assemblies of God University (7-7, 3-3 SAC) at 1 p.m.
