Mid-America Christian University

OKLAHOMA CITY – The No. 3 Mid-America Christian men's soccer team completed its dominant run through the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament with its third consecutive shutout as the Evangels came away with a 2-0 victory over Southwestern Christian to become back-to-back SAC Tournament Champions on Thursday night at the Mike & Helen Dill Soccer Field.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• MACU – 37:33 – Goal: Luan Cesar (9), Assist: Rodrigo Ferreira – MACU 1, SCU 0
• MACU – 59:15 – Goal: Endri Copa (1), Assists: Cesar Ramirez, Ricardo Ferreira – MACU 2, SCU 0

 
MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Mid-America Christian had a great early chance in the 10^th minute when Luan Cesar fired a 21-yard bouncer from the middle to the left post, but SCU goalkeeper Santiago Esparza was able to deflect the shot just enough to get it to bounce off the left post to keep the Evangels off the board.
  • The Evangels had another strong opportunity in the 25^th minute when Cesar delivered a good ball to the left side for Cesar Ramirez. From 22-yards out, Ramirez blasted a rocket toward the middle crossbar, but Esparza made yet another phenomenal leaping save to poke the shot over the crossbar.
  • After a foul was called on Southwestern Christian in the 38^th minute, the Evangels were able to capitalize. Taking a free kick from 25-yards out from the right side, Rodrigo Ferreira delivered a phenomenal cross to just outside the six-yard box. Cesar was able to stick a foot out and chip an eight-yard poke into the top right corner to give MACU a 1-nil advantage heading into the halftime break.
• Second Half
  • The only attempt at an equalizer that the Eagles were able to attempt in the second half came in the 52^nd minute on a 20-yard shot from the middle by Muhammad Bilal, but MACU keeper Jeremi Abonnel was able to catch the arcing shot toward the right post with ease to keep SCU off the board.
  • With just over 30 minutes left, the Evangels were able to push across a crucial insurance goal. On the play, Mateus Pasquantonio was able to intercept a clearance and find Ricardo Ferreira breaking toward the 18-yard box. Ferreira linked up with Ramirez on the left edge and floated a great cross to the middle of the box over the defense for Endri Copa. The senior defenseman was able to slip a wide open shot toward the right post to bring the score to 2-nil.
  • SCU's only real strong chance at cutting into the MACU lead came in the 80^th minute after a foul was called on the Evangels from just past the midfield stripe. SCU defender Damnjan Kojic launched a great deep ball into the Evangels' box, but Victor Arias' header attempt just barely sailed over the right corner crossbar.

MATCH NOTES

• Mid-America Christian controlled the pace from beginning to end, outshooting Southwestern Christian 16-6. The Eagles did manage to hold the Evangels to just five shots on-goal, however, the MACU defense was even more stifling, limiting SCU to only two on-target attempts.
• The Evangels completed a dominant run through the SAC Tournament by pitching their third straight shutout, outscoring their opponents by a 10-0 margin during that stretch. The MACU defense was downright suffocating, limiting the opposition to only three total shots on-goal for the entire tourney.
• Luan Cesar's first game-winning goal of his Evangels career came in one of the biggest games of the year. However, Cesar has been a consistent goal-scorer MACU as he netted his ninth of the season to move into second on the squad.
• After missing most of the season due to injury, Endri Copa's 60^th-minute score was his first of the season and the sixth of his three-year MACU career.
• Cesar Ramirez continued to add to his MACU single season assist record with his 12^th of the 2021 campaign. Rodrigo Ferreira also became the second Evangels player to record double-digit assists on the season with his 10^th and Ricardo Ferreira recorded his eighth of the year.
• The men's soccer team also made history at Mid-America Christian by becoming the first program in the history of MACU Athletics to win both the regular season and tournament crown.
• With the win, the Evangels became back-to-back SAC Tournament champs for the first time in program history and won their third tourney title in the last four seasons. In last season's victory on Apr. 9, MACU battled Central Christian to a scoreless draw after 110 minutes of play before topping the Tigers 3-0 in the postgame shootout.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will now await to find out where it will be competing in the NAIA Tournament. The NAIA Men's Soccer Selection Show will air on the NAIA's Facebook and YouTube pages at noon on Monday, Nov. 15.
• The NAIA Opening Round will be held from Nov. 18-20 while the National Championships will be played at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex in Decatur, Ala. from Nov. 30-Dec. 6.