SALINA, Kan. – On a night where the mercury dipped into the upper 20s at the Graves Family Sports Complex, the defense for the Mid-America Christian University men's soccer team took center stage. What might not have been expected was for the Evangels defense to provide the offense.
MACU (13-5-1) got goals in the first half from Djibril Fofana and Oliver May, and the defense, led by goalkeeper Dan McNicholas made it stand up, as MACU upset the NAIA #21 Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes (17-5). The MACU victory snapped a 15 match winning streak for the Coyotes, who entered the 60th Annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship as the tournament's No. 14 seed.
The Evangels needed less than six minutes to break the ice. Working off a free kick, Djibril Fofana took a shot that was turned aside by KWU goalkeeper Luis Barrera, but Fofana lunged and headed home the rebound to give MACU the 1-0 lead. The goal was Fofana's third of the season, and it marked the third time this postseason that MACU had drawn first blood in a match.
Nine minutes later, the Evangels doubled their lead. Rai Ramus took a corner kick and on the ensuing scrum, the ball found its way to the feet of Oliver May. The senior defender from Sheffield, England belted home a shot for his fourth tally of the season, and it proved to be vital.
The Evangels took the 2-0 lead into the locker room at the half, and in the second half, MACU continued to try and apply some pressure, while not taking unnecessary chances. The Evangels generated a trio of shots in the second half, and they kept the Coyotes out of dangerous areas until the 78th minute. Carlos Loreto headed home a shot after a corner kick was sent pinballing around the Evangels' penalty area, to cut the MACU lead to 2-1, but the Evangels clamped down on the defensive end for the final moments of the game, and MACU claimed the win 2-1 to advance to the round of 16 of the men's soccer championship.
The win was the first ever in the NAIA tournament for MACU, and their first in any national championship event since the 1999 season. The Evangels also tied a program record with their 13th victory of the season.
McNicholas (5-0-1) made four saves in the win, and Barrera (15-5) stopped six shots in the loss for the Coyotes.
With the win, MACU advances to the NAIA Championship final site at OC Great Park Stadium in Irvine, California. The Evangels will next face the No. 3 seed in the bracket, the Central Methodist University (Mo.) Eagles (18-2-2). The match will take place on November 27, and it is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. CST.
