OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team earned its first Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament win in nearly a decade on Saturday afternoon as the Evangels pulled out a 1-0 victory over Oklahoma City in the SAC Quarterfinal at Evangel Field.
Junior midfielder Ariadna Ramirez scored the game-winning goal in the 28th minute while junior goalkeeper Jennifer Starwalt and the Mid-America Christian (12-4-1) defense limited Oklahoma City (9-9) to just 10 shots and five shots on-goal in the shutout victory.
The Evangels had a solid opportunity at taking the lead in the 18th minute when Ramirez delivered a pass to Kyleigh Gibson on the left side of the box, but OCU goalkeeper Nadine Steiner made a strong sliding save to prevent the go-ahead goal from crossing.
With neither team getting many first half opportunities, MACU was able to cash in with Ramirez's game-deciding goal with 17:25 remaining in the period. On the play, Liz Lozano started a strong attack by delivering a great pass from the left side to Ramirez sitting middle just outside the goal box. Ramirez laid out a nice touch pass to Gibson streaking down the left side of the box and she returned it to Ramirez crashing the middle and sliding a shot into the right side of the goal.
Neither team was able to string together a strong attack the remainder of the half as the Evangels went into the break with the 1-nil advantage. MACU held a 4-3 edge in shots, including a 3-2 margin in shot-on-goal in the first 45 minutes.
In the second half, Mid-America Christian had a golden opportunity to extend its lead when a foul was called just outside the OCU goal box, setting up a Ramirez free kick. However, Steiner made a tremendous leaping save, knocking the shot up and off the crossbar, only to make another great diving save seconds later on Kelsey Henry's follow-up shot toward the right post.
Oklahoma City faced a similar predicament with just under 21 minutes remaining when the Evangels were called for a foul 10 yards from outside the box, setting up an Annie Bragg free kick that ricochet off the left side of the crossbar and was cleared by the Evangels to end the threat.
The Stars were able to get three shots on-goal in the next 12 minutes, but Starwalt was able to stop each opportunity to seal the Evangels victory.
Both teams had limited chances throughout as MACU was held to just 12 shots with seven being on-target opposed to OCU's 10-5 split. Junior defender Marga Franco led the Evangels with five shots, placing two on-frame.
Picking up her 12th victory in-goal, Starwalt moved into second in the MACU record books for the most goalkeeper wins in a single season, putting her just two back of Melissa Dobie's 2010 mark. Starwalt also recorded five saves for her 13th career shutout to surpass Kaitlyn Whitten for second in program history.
Fourth-seeded Mid-America Christian will look for a major upset in the SAC Semifinal as the Evangels will travel to Chickasha, Okla. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 for a 6:30 p.m. matchup against top-seeded and nationally ninth-ranked Science & Arts.
