BETHANY, Okla. – For the second time this post-season, the Mid-America Christian University men's soccer team had a match which was decided on penalty kicks after the teams were unable to decide things in regulation and overtime. Unfortunately for the Evangels, this shootout did not go as well for them as the first.
MACU (13-5-3) attempted all five of their shots in the shootout, but a save from Milos Milovic on the final attempt proved to be the difference, as Southwestern Christian University (17-5-1) took the NCCAA Central Region Title on PKs 4-3 after the teams tied the match 1-1.
The first half began with a back-and-forth feel to play. MACU had two shots in the first three minutes, and SCU responded with a pair of shots in a 34 second span in the 10th minute, but neither team found the frame until the 24th minute. Jakob O'Meara-Gill made two saves in just under two minutes for the Evangels, and they nearly broke through in the 30th minute. Yannis Krouk took a shot that was saved by Milos Milovic, and Giovanni Sosa put the rebound off the post, as the Eagles dodged a bullet, and at intermission, the match remained scoreless.
Just over five minutes into the second half, the Eagles broke the deadlock. Igor Stojanovic and Matheus Goviea orchestrated a give-and-go in the box around a MACU defender, and Stojanovic scored his 17th goal of the season to give SCU the lead.
MACU pressed, looking for the equalizer, and in the 70th minute, they drew level. Sergio Ribeiro took a free kick from just outside the box on the left wing side which was blocked, but Oliver May collected the rebound and fired a shot into the far side netting to tie the score with his third goal of the year. MACU had two of the final three shots of regulation, but they were unable to take advantage, and the match headed to overtime tied, 1-1.
Sage Moore had the first shot in overtime, but Milovic made the save, and moments later, SCU nearly ended the match. Danny Roberts took a shot that was stopped by O'Meara-Gill, and Milan Milicevic put the rebound wide, and the teams combined for only one shot in the final 4:05 of the overtime period as the match remained deadlocked. Each team missed a shot high in the second overtime, but neither team put a shot on frame, and after 110 minutes of play, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The teams then went to the penalty kick shootout to decide the Central Region Championship and the automatic qualifier for the NCCAA Division I Men's Soccer championship. MACU shot first, and their first three shooters – Djibril Fofana, Ribeiro, and May – all scored on their attempts. SCU answered with goals from Lucas Loureiro, Matheus Goviea, and Artur Gomes; and heading to the fourth round of the shootout. MACU's Dominik Tajak stepped up to take his attempt, but he missed the net, and Milicevic scored for SCU to put the pressure on the Evangels. Moore was the Evangels' final shooter, and his attempt was turned away by Milovic, and SCU claimed the championship on PKs, 4-3.
The Evangels must now wait to see if they will continue their season at the NCCAA National championships. Nine teams will qualify – the six regional champions and three at-large selections. The field will be finalized over the weekend, with the championship set to begin on November 27 at Austin-Tindall Soccer Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.
