MCPHERSON, Kan. – The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team claimed its second NCCAA Central Region Championship in the last three years as the Evangels went into Central Christian and came away with the 2-1 victory on Thursday night.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• MACU – 15:12 – Goal: Jasmine Morales (4), Assist: Kyleigh Rushing – MACU 1, CCCK 0
• MACU – 46:36 – Goal: Paola Camacho (1) – MACU 2, CCCK 0
• CCCK – 88:54 – Goal: Alexa Riddle (10) – MACU 2, CCCK 1

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Central Christian managed to control the possession the early going, but Mid-America Christian was able to take advantage of its first opportunity on-goal when Kyleigh Rushing broke down the right side and delivered a pass toward the middle of the box that glanced off the keeper and right to the foot of Jasmine Morales, as he punched it in from seven-yards out to bring it to a 1-nil game in the 16^th minute.
  • Mid-America Christian had two more opportunities on-goal in the final 10 minutes, but Paola Camacho's attempt in the 36^th minute and Marga Franco's chance with 3:46 left was stopped as well.
  • In a two-minute stretch late in the half, Jennifer Starwalt notched three saves to allow MACU to take its one-goal advantage into the halftime break.
• Second Half
  • MACU was able to take advantage of its first on-target attempt just a minute and a half into the second 45 as Paola Camacho got by the defense and booted in a shot from the left side of the box to extend the Evangels' edge to 2-0.
  • Starwalt came up with two more clutch saves before Central Christian's Mariah Godinez pinged a shot off the post with just over 10 minutes left.
  • The Tigers finally scored their lone goal with only 1:06 left, but the Evangels were able to prevent the equalizer from crossing in the final minute as MACU sealed the 2-1 win.

MATCH NOTES

• Mid-America Christian was only able to attempt six shots for the match, but were effective with its attempts by placing all of them on-goal. Meanwhile, Central Christian was able to get 11 shot attempts off and place eight on-frame.
• With the win, the Evangels defeated Central Christian for the third time this season. MACU battled back from a two-goal deficit to come away with a 3-2 win at Central Christian back on Oct. 2 before getting a 1-nil victory in the SAC Quarterfinal on Nov. 6.
• MACU also claimed its second NCCAA Central Region Championship in the last three seasons. The Evangels opted out of NCCAA Postseason competition during the fall of 2020 but put together a dominant 4-0 win over Southwestern Christian on Nov. 19, 2019.
• Jasmine Morales' go-ahead goal in the first half was her fourth of the season while Paola Camacho's game-winner was her first of the 2021 campaign.
• Jennifer Starwalt conceded just one goal and made seven saves for an .875 save percentage for the match.

UP NEXT

• With the win, Mid-America Christian has received an automatic berth to the NCCAA Division I National Championships that will be played at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. from Nov. 29-Dec. 4. The Evangels will own the No. 5 seed and will play eighth-seeded Warner (Fla.) in the first match of Pool Play at 3:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 30.