OKLAHOMA CITY – Entering play on Saturday, the Mid-America Christian University men's soccer team had not beaten Wayland Baptist University in their last seven tries. The Pioneers came into the match ranked fourth in the NAIA top-25 and as the defending NAIA National Champions. They had handled MACU twice last season, including handing MACU a 4-0 loss in the Sooner Athletic Conference semifinal.

None of that mattered to the Evangels on this day.

Simon Van Rheeden cashed in for MACU (7-1, 2-0 SAC) in the 32^nd minute, and the Evangels defense made it stand up, as the Evangels blanked the Pioneers (6-2, 1-1 SAC) and took a 1-0 win.

The match took on a physical tone from the start. The teams combined for nine fouls and only one shot in the first 20 minutes of play, and in the 26^th minute, Van Rheeden got a chance to dent the scoresheet, but WBU goalkeeper Ziggy Camejo was equal to the task. Liam Ward had to make a stop on Alexis Castillo in the 30^th minute, and less than two minutes later, Van Rheeden cashed in.

Oliver May sent a pass from deep on the left end line across the face of the goal, and Van Rheeden played a beautiful one-touch volley off his left foot and snuck it inside the right post to put MACU up 1-0.

Immediately, the Pioneers ratcheted up the pressure, firing three of the final four shots in the first half, including two that Ward had to be sharp to save, but the sophomore goalkeeper made the saves, and MACU carried the 1-0 lead into the break.

Ward made another save in the 56^th minute, poking a shot from James Quinn wide of the post to preserve the lead. Meanwhile, Camejo was equally sharp at the other end, making a pair of saves to keep MACU from extending the lead, but for the final half hour, it was Ward and the MACU defense on full display. Ward made two more great saves late in the stanza, and the back line of Djbril Fofana, Simon Wieschemann, and Mohammadou Cisse neutralized a potent Pioneers' attack, keeping them around the perimeter and helping MACU hold on for the 1-0 shutout win.

Ward (5-1) picked up his third shutout of the season, and he made six saves in the win. Camejo (6-2) made three saves in the loss.

MACU will face their third straight tough test, heading to nearby Chickasha, Oklahoma on Tuesday night to take on the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (8-2, 2-0 SAC). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.