OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team will be looking to compete in its first ever Sooner Athletic Championship game as the Evangels head to Chickasha, Okla. to take on top-seeded and nationally ninth-ranked Science & Arts at 6:30 p.m. in the SAC Semifinal.
LAST TIME OUT
Mid-America Christian (12-4-1) won its first SAC Tournament match since 2010 when the Evangels defense clamped down on Oklahoma City for a 1-0 victory on Friday, Nov. 9 at Evangel Field. Junior forward Ariadna Ramirez scored the game-winning goal in the 28th minute from the middle on a nice return pass from the left side by Kyleigh Gibson while the defensive backfield limited the Stars to just 10 shots and five shots on-goal.
SCOUTING THE DROVERS
Science & Arts makes its way into Tuesday night's contest with an 18-1 record and have won eight straight since dropping a home loss to John Brown on Oct. 5. The Drovers are the nation's best scoring offense, averaging 5.58 goals per game with an NAIA-best 5.11 assists per game. USAO had no troubles with No. 8 seed Central Christian in its SAC Quarterfinal match, topping the Tigers 8-1 on Friday, Nov. 9.
The Drovers are led by the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year Emma Rice, who led the conference with 34 goals and 76 points, ranking third in the NAIA in goal scoring and fourth in total points.
Sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Sorrell will be the Drovers starter at goalie, leading the SAC in goals against average at 0.41. The Drovers as a whole on defense have been incredibly stout, allowing just seven goals and 51 shots on-goal for a 2.68 shots on-goal allowed per game average.
HISTORY WITH THE DROVERS
Despite falling to USAO back on Sept. 27 in the conference opener, the Evangels gave USAO one of its biggest challenges of the season in a 3-1 defeat at Evangel Field. The three goals allowed by MACU is the third-fewest that Science & Arts has scored in a match and the two-goal margin is also the second smallest margin of victory for the Drovers all season. Since that loss, Mid-America Christian has been on-fire, winning eight of its last 10 games.
The Evangels will be seeking just their second win ever over the Drovers and their first in Chickasha with MACU's lone win in the series falling on Oct. 5, 2010 in a 3-2 victory at Evangel Field.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Mid-America Christian has never played in a Sooner Athletic Conference Championship, but if the Evangels can upset the Drovers on Tuesday night, not only will MACU make its first championship bout, but it also has a chance of hosting that game. After Wayland Baptist upset second-seed John Brown in the SAC Quarterfinal, if the Pioneers can pull off another upset at Texas Wesleyan, then MACU would host the SAC Championship on Friday, Nov. 15.
MACU is also competing for its first NAIA Tournament opportunity. If the Evangels can win the SAC Championship, they will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament. However, if the Evangels do fall short, MACU will still be competing in postseason play as the Evangels are still in prime position to host an NCCAA Central Region Championship next week.
RAKING IN THE RECORDS
With Ramirez's game-winning goal against the Stars, the 2019 Mid-America Christian women's soccer team tied the program record for most goals scored in a season with 67, drawing even with the 2017 squad that reached that milestone in 21 matches. Not only has the Evangels offense been strong this season, but the defense has also clamped down by recording nine shutouts in their 17 matches, tying the second-most clean sheets in a season in MACU history.
