PLAINVIEW, Texas – Junior defender Marga Franco netted a second half equalizer and Jennifer Starwalt made a game-saving play in the 107th minute of double overtime to allow the Mid-America Christian women's soccer team to come away with a 1-1 draw at Wayland Baptist on Tuesday.
Despite conceding an early offensive onslaught by Wayland Baptist (4-1-2, 1-0-1 Sooner Athletic Conference) that saw a 6th minute goal and five shots in the first 17 minutes, Mid-America Christian (4-3-1, 0-1-1 SAC) clamped down on the Pioneers by holding them to just six shots in the final 93 minutes to help set up Franco's game-tying goal in the 70th minute.
The Pioneers were able to get the attack going right from the start, getting three shots on-goal in the first three minutes before Fortune Keady broke away down the left side and fired a shot just out of the reach of Starwalt to make it an early 1-nil WBU advantage just 5:45 into the contest.
Both teams played strong on the defensive end as there were only two shots on-goal taken in the final 39 minutes of the half as the Pioneers held on to their one-goal advantage into the halftime break.
While the Evangels' opportunities were limited in the first half, MACU was finally able to breakthrough Franco's 70th minute snipe. After a foul was called in the Pioneers from 35 yards out on the left side, Brooklyn Fink fired a ball into the goal box that got loose on the right side. Franco was able to track it down and fire a shot just under the crossbar, locking the match up at 1-1.
Mid-America Christian had another strong opportunity moments later when Kristy Ashworth had a look on a free kick from the near side from 30 yards out, but WBU goalkeeper Jessie Rivera was able to make the sliding save at the right side post to keep the match tied.
Neither team got a clean look at a shot on-goal in the remainder of regulation, sending the match into an overtime period. Despite being outshot 7-3 in the opening half, the Evangels turned the tide on WBU in the second half by outshooting the Pioneers by a 10-2 margin.
In the 107th minute, Wayland Baptist had a prime opportunity to win the game on a cross from the right side to the far side post, but Starwalt made a fantastic save on Taylor Moore's point-blank header to keep the game alive for the Evangels.
MACU had one a couple of chances at a golden goal in the 109th minute, but the Pioneers were able to make a pair of saves on shots by Kyleigh Gibson and Kelsey Henry to end the match in a draw.
In 110 minutes of action, MACU was the more aggressive team offensively, holding a 17-11 edge in shots and a 6-5 margin in shots on-goal.
Franco led the Evangels attack with four shots Bayleigh Fink and Henry took three apiece. Defensively, Starwalt closed out with four saves and conceded just one goal in the full 110 minutes of play.
Mid-America Christian will continue to seek its first conference victory of the season on Saturday as the Evangels will travel to McPherson, Kan. on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. match against Central Christian.
