FORT WORTH, Texas – For the second time in 96 hours, the Mid-America Christian University women's soccer team squared off with the Texas Wesleyan University Rams, this time with the match coming in Fort Worth, and as a part of the Sooner Athletic Conference women's soccer Championship. The match was the third match for the Lady Evangels in that span, and as the match went along, MACU showed the effects of that workload.
MACU (10-7) scored a goal on a free kick in the first, but that was the only offense they were able to muster, as Texas Wesleyan (14-3) cruised to the 5-1 win. The loss ends the Lady Evangels' NAIA postseason run, but MACU will host the NCCAA Central Regional Tournament in mid-November.
Tameir Grosvenor scored her first of two goals in the eighth minute to open the scoring, and five minutes later, Samantha Moore double the Rams advantage on a penalty kick to put TWU up 2-0. Kierra Morgan got the Lady Evangels on the board in the 24th minute, scoring on a free kick from 25 yards out, and the Lady Evangels were down only 2-1 midway through the half. Grosvenor netted her second goal eight minutes later, though, and the goal not only pushed the Rams' lead to 3-1, but it squelched the momentum the Lady Evangels were attempting to build. The second half was all Rams, and Moore and Grosvenor combined on a double-assist goal by Taylor Ross, and Cheyanne Moore cashed in a penalty kick late in the match to cap the scoring in the TWU 5-1 win.
Christy Zwart (12-2) – who did not appear in the Rams' win over MACU in the regular season finale on Tuesday, made six saves and allowed only one goal in earning the victory. Jennifer Starwalt (8-6) made seven saves in the loss.
The win advances Texas Wesleyan to the SAC Semifinals where they will square off with the University of Science & Arts (Okla.) Drovers on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The loss, however does not end MACU's season. The Evangels have qualified for, and will host, the NCCAA Central Regional Championship at Evangel Field on November 15-17. The winner of the Regional will head to the NCCAA Women's Soccer National Championship tournament, which will be held in Kissimmee, Florida from November 27-December 2. Brackets and participating teams in the Central Regional Championship will be announcedas soon as they are available, at macuathletics.com.
