GREENVILLE, S.C. – In his first season with the MACU women's soccer program, head coach Anthony Yousey was named the NCCAA Central Region Coach of the Year while six members of the team were selected to the NCCAA All-Central Region Team on Wednesday.
Senior forward Kelsey Henry, senior midfielder Marga Franco and senior defender Dixie Anderson were named to the First Team while senior forward Kyleigh Rushing, junior midfielder Daniela Paez and senior goalkeeper Jennifer Starwalt were tabbed to the Second Team.
So far through the 2021 campaign, Yousey has led the program to its third straight 10-plus win season and the program's eighth in the last 11 campaigns. The Evangels have amassed a 10-7 overall record and went 6-3 in Sooner Athletic Conference play to place fourth in the league standings. MACU has performed well against its NCCAA Central Region counterparts, going 5-0 against the other teams in the region.
In her third season with the program, Henry led the program's offensive efforts with a team-high eight goals and four assists for 20 points. The Arima, Trinidad & Tobago native tied a career-high six points on two goals and two assists in a 7-1 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Oct. 26.
Being tabbed to the NCCAA All-Central Region for the third straight year, Franco was once again one of the leaders of the MACU squad. The Palma de Mallorca, Spain native has so far dished out a team-high six assists, recording two of them in that win over the Aggies on Oct. 26.
Rounding out the First Team honorees was Anderson, who was an elite defender out on the wing for the Evangels. The Shawnee, Okla. standout's lone goal of the season was a big one, as she netted one of three second half goals to lead the Evangels to a 3-2 comeback victory at Central Christian on Oct. 2.
Earning her third straight All-Region acclaim, Rushing was once again one of the top scorers on the team with five goals and three assists for 13 points. The Moore, Okla. native scored her biggest goal of the season in the Sooner Athletic Conference Quarterfinal, when she blasted a 30-yard shot from the right side that glanced off the hand of the leaping keeper for the game-winner in the 63rd minute.
Competing in her first season with the Evangels, Paez was one of the possession leaders with the Evangels while netting a goal and dishing out four assists in the attack. The Bogota, Columbia native turned in her best game against Panhandle, when she netted her first goal of the season and also dished out an assist for three points in the match.
Rounding out the honorees, Starwalt has put together another sensational season in-goal for the program. The Moore, Okla. product is conceding 1.80 goals per game and has made 73 saves for a .716 save percentage. Starwalt is one of the most decorated keepers in program history as she holds the MACU records for wins (52), shutouts (28) and saves (378).
Mid-America Christian will be looking to continue its season on Friday as the Evangels will be competing at Central Christian for the NCCAA Central Region Championship. Kickoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. in McPherson, Kan.
