BILLINGS, Mont. – On Monday afternoon, the Mid-America Christian University men's soccer team took the field at Rocky Mountain College with an opportunity to make an early season statement. The Evangels were taking on the 17th-ranked Battlin' Bears with a chance to move to 3-0 for the second year in a row. Unfortunately for MACU, missed opportunities and three late tallies helped prevent the extension of the Evangels' unbeaten streak.
MACU (2-1) fell behind 1-0 early, and after they were unable to convert several chances late in the first half and early in the second, a trio of Rocky Mountain (3-1) goals in the second half sealed the win for RMC, 4-0.
Nolan Sherwood got the Battlin' Bears on the board in the 12th minute, converting a pass from Sky Swenson to open the scoring, but the Evangels kept the pressure up in the waning moments of the frame. MACU peppered RMC goalkeeper Kristofer Wennin with five shots in the opening half, but he was equal to all challenges, and at intermission, RMC led 1-0.
The match took on a back and forth feel early in the second half, but MACU was unable to convert any of their chances to draw level. Meanwhile, Liam Ward made some really nice saves – including a right toe save in a 1-on-1 opportunity early in the frame – to preserve the margin, but in the 68th minute, Rocky Mountain added some insurance. Pablo Ferriera took a pass from Mason Luse and rang a shot in off the left post to double the Battlin' Bears' lead. As the Evangels pressed trying to get back in the match, RMC cashed in two more goals in the final moments – from Sherwood on a penalty in the 77th minute and Bilechi Sumali in the 83rd – to cap the scoring and provide the final margin of 4-0.
Wennin (3-1) made five saves in earning his first shutout of the season, and Ward (2-1) made four saves in the loss for the Evangels.
MACU will be back in action this weekend in Houston, Texas for a pair of tough road matches. The weekend will kick off with a 3:30 p.m. tilt against the University of Houston-Victoria (1-1), followed by a Saturday night date with the University of St. Thomas Celts (1-0) at 8 p.m.
