BILLINGS, Mont. – The season has started well for the Mid-America Christian University men's soccer team. Despite losing one of the NAIA's leading scorer's from 2017, the Evangels' offense has fared just fine so far in the new year.
MACU (2-0) scored twice early in their match on Saturday afternoon, and their defense made it hold up, as the Evangels defeated the University of Providence Argos (0-1) 2-1.
In the seventh minute, MACU got on the board. The Evangels began applying the pressure from the offensive right wing, and the ball worked its way to the end line. Simon Van Rheeden ripped a shot that was turned aside and cleared, but the clearance came right to Djbril Fofana who blasted a right-footed strike just inside the goalpost to give MACU a 1-0 lead. Just less than eight minutes later, Rai Ramus carried the ball in from the right wing toward the center of the field, then ripped a shot across his body and ricocheted it in off the left post to double the Evangels' lead.
George Holloway got the Argos on the board in the 49th minute, when he took a long pass from the left wing behind the Evangels' defense, and he chipped it over MACU goalkeeper Liam Ward to cut the MACU lead to 2-1. That proved to be the last shot on goal in the game, as MACU was able to hold on and claim the 2-1 win.
Ward (2-0) earned the win, while Marc Girones (0-1) took the loss for the Argos. Each goalkeeper made two saves in the match.
MACU will face a stiff test their next time out, as they will take on the host NAIA #17 Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears (1-1) at 2 p.m.
