OKLAHOMA CITY - The Mid-America Christian University men's soccer team had plenty of opportunities to win their match against Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Tuesday afternoon. The Evangels fired 25 shots in the match, and several times, MACU beat the SAGU goalkeeper only to have the posts deny their chances, and SAGU took advantage.
MACU (9-3, 4-2 SAC) dominated in possession all day, but SAGU (5-9-1, 2-4 SAC) packed in the defense to deny time and space in dangerous areas, and the Lions managed a counter-attack goal in the 62nd minute to take the 1-0 win. The Loss cost MACU control of their own destiny for the SAC Championship, as they must now get help to be able to claim the program's first ever SAC banner.
MACU began applying pressure from the opening whistle, earning their first corner kick of the match in the third minute. The Evangels generated a pair of shots in the wake of that corner, and after SAGU produced a pair of shots moments later, the rest of the half was dominated by MACU. The Evangels fired the final 11 shots of the first half, including one from Mouhammadou Cisse that rang off the crossbar, but MACU was unable to find the net, and at intermission, the match remained scoreless.
The Evangels continued their attack early in the second half, notching the first four shots of the frame, but in the 62nd minute, a turnover and a long pass down the right wing led to an opportunity for the Lions. Bryan Callejas took a pass down the wing and led a 2-on-1 rush toward the goal. Callejas slid a pass across to Heriberto Diaz who had the whole goal in which to put the ball, and he did not miss, giving SAGU the 1-0 lead.
Following the goal, the Lions were even more defensive minded. SAGU packed seven defenders inside the box, and the strategy worked to frustrate the MACU attack, but the Evangels kept pressing. MACU finished the match with a 25-5 shots advantage, including a 10-3 edge in shots on goal, but SAGU goalkeeper Jose Ladoriel was up to each challenge. With time ticking down inside the final minute, Oliver May got one final chance, and he got the ball past Ladoriel, but May's shot hit the goalpost and went wide, and SAGU held on for the 1-0 win.
Ladoriel made 10 saves in the shutout, while Liam Ward (7-3) made two saves in the match for MACU.
The Evangels will return to the road this weekend for their final away match of the year. MACU will head to Fort Worth, Texas on Friday night for a 7 p.m. kick-off against Texas Wesleyan University (6-6, 2-3 SAC).
