BETHANY, Okla. – The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team jumped out to an early lead almost right out of the gate and never looked back as the Evangels won their 12^th straight match against Southwestern Christian, cruising to a 5-1 victory at Cagle Field on Tuesday afternoon.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• First Half
  • MACU – 4:04 – Goal: Johanna Behrens (1), Assist: Daniela Paez – MACU 1, SCU 0
  • MACU – 23:59 – Goal: Abigail McCain (4), Assist: Kelsey Henry – MACU 2, SCU 0
  • SCU – 31:59 – Goal: Nahomi Olvia (13), Assist: Esther Hicks – MACU 2, SCU 1
  • MACU – 34:21 – Goal: Veronica Lopez Cordero (1), Assist: Kyleigh Rushing – MACU 3, SCU 1
• Second Half
  • MACU – 63:46 – Goal: Sylvie Willie (1) – MACU 4, SCU 1
  • MACU – 75:16 – Goal: SCU Own Goal – MACU 5, SCU 1

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Kadin Stinson was able to force an early shot on-goal before the Evangels were able to capitalize on their next opportunity. On the go-ahead play, Daniela Paez dished it back to Johanna Behrens breaking down the left side just outside of the box, heaving a long shot that found the top right corner of the goal to make it a 1-nil MACU lead in the fifth minute.
  • The Evangels added to it in the 24^th minute when Kelsey Henry was able to win a ball in the middle of the field and dish it to Abigail McCain breaking into the left side of the box. She fired a 14-yard shot toward the right post to bring it to a 2-0 lead.
  • Southwestern Christian got one back just eight minutes later when Esther Hicks won a ball toward the middle of the field and found SCU's striker Nahomi Olvia streaking into the left side of the box. She rifled a shot toward the right post that just pinged off the inside of the bar and rolled in, cutting the Eagles' deficit to 2-1.
  • MACU got the goal back in the 35^th minute when Kyleigh Rushing delivered a beautiful right side corner toward the left side of the box and Veronica Lopez Cordero placed a great header high into the top left corner of the goal, bringing the score to 3-1.
  • Henry had the chance to add to it with just over eight minutes to go, but her shot from the right side of the box bounced off the crossbar, keeping it to a 3-1 game heading into the half.
• Second Half
  • The Evangels added to their lead when Sylvie Willie was able to push across a goal that was initially headed away by an SCU defender off a great cross into the box by Rushing, expanding the lead to 4-1 with just under 26 minutes remaining.
  • With just under 15 minutes to go, the Evangels were able to capitalize off an Eagles error when Rushing, breaking down the right side tried to cross it to Jasmine Morales, but a defender retreating back accidentally kicked into her own goal trying to clear it out the back line to increase the MACU edge to 5-1.

MATCH SUMMARY

• Despite the lopsided score, the two teams were relatively even statistically as the Evangels held a 19-14 edge in overall shots, but Southwestern Christian led in the shots on-goal with a 10-9 margin.
• Junior forward Abigail McCain was credited with the game-winning goal, her second of the season and her fourth overall goal of the year.
• Johanna Behrens, Veronica Lopez Cordero and Sylvie Willie all scored their first goals of the season for the Evangels.
• Daniela Paez, Kelsey Henry and Kyleigh Rushing were all credited with assists on three of the Evangels's goals.
• Jennifer Starwalt improved her record to 6-3 in-goal, conceding just one goal and making a season-high seven saves in 74 minutes of action.
• Mid-America Christian improved its record to 6-3 overall and 3-0 in Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Evangels have won three straight on the road to remain unbeaten in true road contests. MACU has also now won 13 straight against Southwestern Christian since 2010.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will now prepare for one of its toughest home matches of the season as the Evangels will host Science & Arts for a 5 p.m. kickoff at the Mike & Helen Dill Soccer Field on Saturday, Oct. 9.