MCKENZIE, Tenn. – Being forced to overtime for a third straight match, the No. 17 Mid-America Christian men's soccer team would not need another shootout to determine a winner as sophomore midfielder Mandela Singh-Sharpe fired in the golden goal with 1:55 remaining in the second overtime to defeat No. 8 and top-seeded Bethel (Tenn.) 3-2 at Wildcat Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
On the game-winning play, Carlos Castrejon launched a corner kick from the left side into the middle of the 18-yard box that was headed out by Bethel forward Alfonso Gooden. However, Singh-Sharpe was able to make a great read as he dashed in from his midfield position and from 30 yards out, blasted a rocket shot that skidded untouched through the box and just inside the left post to seal the victory.
Even though Mid-America Christian (15-3-3) outshot Bethel (13-2) through the first 45 minutes, the Wildcats took the lead into the halftime break when Pascal Mohungsi was able to track down a deep pass down the right side and crossed it over to Damani Haris as he headed in the go-ahead goal in the 39th minute to give the Wildcats a 1-0 edge.
The Evangels came out in the second half and played inspired soccer, getting a pair of on-target shots saved just five minutes in before the equalizer came in the 53rd minute.
Leading up to the game-tying goal, Rodrigo Albuquerque was shoved in the back trying to retrieve a throw-in from the right side just outside the 18-yard box, setting up a great chance for the Evangels. On the free kick, Cesar Ramirez curled a shot through the box to the inside of the right post, just out of the reach of the keeper to bring it to a 1-1 game.
Ramirez got another great chance on a breakaway with 32:20 to go, but BU goalkeeper Norberto Lima Vieira made a fantastic leaping save as Ramirez tried to lift the ball over the keeper to keep it tied.
With just over 25 minutes left in the half, Ramirez would give the Evangels the lead. On the go-ahead possession, it appeared the Wildcats had possession near the left corner, but Mason Gonzalez hustled in to take the ball away from the Bethel defender before finding Albuquerque breaking in toward the middle of the box. Vieira made a fantastic diving save on his shot toward the right side, but Ramirez collected the rebound on the right side and fired a return shot toward the left side of the net, just out of the reach of the keeper to give MACU its first lead at 2-1.
Mid-America Christian was able to hold off a furious Bethel rally for most of the remaining time in regulation as MACU keeper Juan Cediel made three strong saves, but much like the Evangels on Thursday, the Wildcats were able to come through with the equalizer in the last few minutes.
Off the corner kick from Sergio Baguena from the left side, the ball found the head of Alioune Diop he put it through to the right side of the net to draw the match even at 2-2 with 1:23 remaining
Bethel had one last chance in regular time to score the game-winner off a corner kick with 15 seconds left, but Cediel was able to make a leaping save toward the right side off the header from Ryan Davie before tapping it out of the box with his foot before being cleared to send the game to overtime.
In the first overtime period, Mid-America Christian's best chance came with just over five minutes remaining when a free kick off the foot of Ramirez squeezed out of the hands of Vieira toward the right post, but Gonzalez's crash came just a moment too late as his point-blank putback was pushed just wide right.
The Wildcats only opportunity in the first overtime period came off a breakaway down the right side with two-and-a-half remaining, but Cediel made a strong diving save on Gooden's 25-yard shot toward the right post to keep it to 2-all heading into the second OT.
Albuquerque had MACU's first chance at a golden goal in the second overtime period when he was able to break open down the left side, but Vieira was able to push his shot toward the crossbar out for a corner kick that ultimately decided the match moments later.
For the match, Mid-America Christian held a 21-18 shot advantage with a 13-10 edge in shots on-goal. Ramirez led the offensive attack with a season-high nine shots with seven on-goal while Albuquerque attempted six shots with four landing on-target.
Despite giving up a pair of goals, Cediel recorded a season-high eight saves for an .800 save percentage, his highest clip of the year in a non-shutout.
By getting the victory, Mid-America Christian will advance to the NAIA National Championship meet where the 10 finalists will meet to decide the champion.
It is the second time in the last three seasons that the Evangels advanced to the final site after they defeated Kansas Wesleyan 2-1 in the NAIA Opening Round in Salina, Kan. on Nov. 17, 2018. MACU will be looking for a different result after falling to Central Methodist 2-0 on Nov. 27, 2018 in its first match at the final site in Irvine, Calif.
This year, the final site will be in Blanchard Woods Park in Columbia County, Ga. with the tourney running from May 4-10.
The Evangels will await to find out who they will face once the tournament is re-seeded. The top six teams will receive a bye in the first round while the last four seeds will compete in a play-in match to see who will advance to the quarterfinal round.
