OKLAHOMA CITY – After picking up its first shutout of the 2019 season, the Mid-America Christian women's soccer team is back home this weekend for a pair of non-conference matches. The Evangels will take on Bethel College (Kan.) at 3 p.m. on Friday before facing crosstown foe Randall University (Okla.) at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
LAST TIME OUT
MACU closed out a three-match road swing at Sterling College (Kan.) last Saturday, picking up a 2-0 victory for its first shutout of the 2019 campaign.
Redshirt freshman forward Kyleigh Gibson recorded the Evangels lone goals in the match, scratching across the game-winner in the 29th minute. The Moore, Okla. product scored her second of the match in the second half, making some fantastic moves in the middle of the defense and pushing the insurance goal in the 56th minute.
The Evangels defense gave the Warriors fits, limiting SC to just six shots and four shots on-goal.
SCOUTING THE THRESHERS
Bethel College comes to town with a 3-1 record and are coming off a weekend split, dropping a 1-0 decision at Johnson & Wales on Sept. 6 before bouncing back with a dominant 11-0 victory against Mills College in Aurora, Colo. on Sept. 7.
The Threshers top scorer during the 2019 season thus far has been junior Kacie Torrens. The Castle Rock, Colo. native has scored for goals for BC this season, including a two-goal, one-assist effort in its 11-0 win over Mills. Katy Ponce and Sydney Brown have also racked up eight points apiece for the Threshers, with each recording three goals and two assists.
Bethel will likely start sophomore goalkeeper Astyn Brown against the Evangels. The Andover, Kan. product has made three starts in goal and has conceded just three goals and made nine saves for a .750 save percentage.
HISTORY WITH THE THRESHERS
The Evangels possess a 4-0 record against Bethel in the all-time series that started back in 2012. The last time the two squads faced each other was last season, as MACU opened the 2018 campaign with a 2-0 victory at Bethel. Liz Lozano and Brittney Stephens each netted a goal for the Evangels in that match while Jennifer Starwalt pitched the shutout in goal.
SCOUTING THE LADY SAINTS
Randall enters the weekend with an 0-6 record and are coming off 2-0 loss earlier this week at home to Eastfield Community College. The Lady Saints have struggled mightily during the 2019 season so far as RU has not scored a goal in regulation while giving up 5.17 goals per match.
Senior goalkeeper Madi Harris is projected to make the start in goal for the Lady Saints. The local Moore native has started every match this season and has made 98 saves, averaging 16.3 saves per match on a .760 save percentage.
HISTORY WITH THE SAINTS
Despite being just eight miles apart, the Evangels and Lady Saints will hope to build a rivalry as the programs will be playing each other for the first time in the programs' histories.
IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO
Earlier in the week, Mid-America Christian had a pair of standouts earn Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week accolades. Gibson earned the Offensive Player of the Week accolade while Starwalt was named the Defensive Player of the Week.
Gibson continued to climb up the NCCAA ranks with her two-goal performances against Arizona Christian and Sterling College as her five goals is currently tied for the third-most in the NCCAA while her two game-winners puts her in a tie for first. Last week, Starwalt was brilliant in-goal for the Evangels, giving up just one goal off a penalty kick and made 11 saves on a .917 save percentage.
Since joining the league in 2008, it is only the second time in program history that MACU received both offensive and defensive player of the week in the same week, with the only other occasion coming on Sept. 4, 2017 when Brittney Stephens took home the offensive award and Madison Donihoo was the defensive recipient.
