HOUSTON – The goal for the Mid-America Christian University men's soccer team was simple headed into their final road non-conference game of the year on Saturday night. The Evangels headed south to Houston to take on the University of St. Thomas (Texas) in search of a big road win, and despite playing more than 60 minutes with only 10 men, MACU found the result they were looking for.
MACU (3-1) got a second half goal while playing down a man in the 58th minute, and that was enough to give the Evangels a 1-0 win over the Celts (1-2).
MACU generated a chance right out of the gate when Sergio Ribeiro put a shot on goal that had to be turned away by UST goalkeeper Omar Lopez. The match took on a physical tone quickly, with the teams combining for 14 fouls and six cards in the opening 45 minutes. Only two shots found the framework of the goal in the final 40 minutes of the first half, and both were saved by MACU goalkeeper Dan McNicholas who was making his first start as an Evangel.
With just less than 20 minutes left in the first half, the Evangels had a player sent off, leaving MACU to play down a man for the remainder of the match. The decision put the Evangels in a position to test their mettle against a quality side on the road, and MACU battled fiercely to get the match to halftime in a scoreless deadlock.
MACU began to generate pressure early in the second half, firing three shots and earning three corner kicks, and in the 58th minute, MACU broke through. The Celts were moving up the right wing, but a turnover just in the Evangels' half of the field led to a counter attack, and Simon Van Rheeden caught Lopez off his line. Van Rheeden launched a 40-yard shot that found the back of the net, and the Evangels found themselves with a 1-0 lead.
The Celts immediately ratcheted up the pressure on the Evangels' defense. Two quick shots from Edwin Saldivar went begging – one high and one wide of the target. With less than 20 minutes to play, Saldivar got loose again and forced McNicholas to make a save, and with under 12 minutes to go, McNicholas made a fourth stop – this time on Luis Bencomo – to preserve the lead, and the rebound was sent wide. In the final 10 minutes, though, MACU regained control and killed the clock to hold on for the 1-0 win.
McNicholas (1-0) made four saves in earning his first career win and first shutout, and Lopez (1-2) turned aside three shots in the loss. Each team had 11 shots in the game.
MACU will return home to open their 2018 home slate on Friday, September 14, hosting the Paul Quinn College Tigers (2-1-1). The match is slated to kick off at 4 p.m.
