OKLAHOMA CITY – The No. 4 Mid-America Christian men's soccer team is preparing to take on one of its biggest Sooner Athletic Conference rivals on Saturday as the Evangels will host Science & Arts (Okla.) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at the Mike & Helen Dill Soccer Field.
 
MACU SEASON REPORT

• Record: 11-0 (3-0 SAC)
• Last Match: Won at No. 25 Southwestern Christian (Okla.) – 1-0 – Oct. 6, 2021 – Bethany, Okla.
• Stat Leaders:
  • Rodrigo Albuquerque – SR – F
    • 9 Goals, 6 Assists, 24 Points, 47 Shots, 27 SOG, 3 GWG
  • Ricardo Ferreira – FR – F
    • 5 Goals, 4 Assists, 14 Points, 21 Shots, 13 SOG, 1 GWG
  • Cesar Ramirez – SR – M
    • 2 Goals, 8 Assists, 12 Points, 29 Shots, 10 SOG, 1 GWG
  • Jeremi Abonnel – FR – GK
    • 11-0 Record, 1.09 GAA, 25 Saves, .676 SV%, 1 SHO
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian is coming off one of its most hard-fought wins of the season against one of the biggest contenders for the Sooner Athletic Conference crown. The Evangels came away with their first victory in Bethany since 2012, topping Southwestern Christian by a score of 1-0.
  • The Evangels played one of its best defensive matches of the season, allowing a high-powered Eagles team to just four shots on-goal despite needing to play down a man over the final 23 minutes and secured the team's first shutout win of the season.
  • Fabian Forisch booted through his second game-winning goal in the last three matches when Rodrigo Albuquerque placed a gorgeous header to the edge of the six-yard box before Forisch rifled it through the inside of the left post in the 56^th minute.
  • Mid-America Christian remained in the No. 4 spot in this week's NAIA Coaches' Poll, but did gain some votes with 456 points and three first-place votes, sitting just eight points back of Oklahoma Wesleyan for third in the poll.

SCOUTING REPORT
(RV) Science & Arts (Okla.)

• Record: 6-3-3 (1-1-1 SAC)
• Last Match: Won vs. Texas Wesleyan – 3-2 (OT) – Oct. 5, 2021 – Chickasha, Okla.
• Series vs. MACU: USAO leads 11-5-2
• Last Match vs. MACU: MACU won 3-1 – Apr. 6, 2021 – Oklahoma City, Okla. (Mike & Helen Dill Soccer Field) (SAC Semifinals)
• Team Notes:
  • Science & Arts comes into the match after coming off a tough challenge from Texas Wesleyan, as Gideon Bossman scored the golden goal in the 98^th minute of overtime to propel the Drovers to a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night.
  • The Drovers enter the matchup averaging 2.0 goals per game, but defensively are allowing just 1.47 goals per contest.
  • While the Drovers lead the all-time series, Mid-America Christian has fared well recently in the series, going 5-3-2 since 2016 and won both matchups during the 2020-21 campaign with a 4-0 victory in Chickasha, Okla. on Mar. 13 and a 3-1 win at home in the SAC Semifinals on Apr. 6. In that win, Mason Gonzalez notched a goal and an assist while Cesar Ramirez put across the game-winner before Adrian Heinle added some insurance in the 72^nd minute.
  • Science & Arts is the seventh opponent the Evangels have faced this season that are either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.