OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team had some strong chances against Science & Arts in the Sooner Athletic Conference Semifinal at Evangel Field on Tuesday night, but the Drovers scored the game-winning goal to make the score 2-1 with just over 10 minutes remaining before holding on for the win.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• Second Half
  • USAO – 52:29 – Goal: Sarah George (1), Assist: Lauren Barrantes – USAO 1, MACU 0
  • MACU – 71:02 – Goal: Paola Camacho (4), Assist: Johanna Behrens – MACU 1, USAO 1
  • USAO – 79:53 – Goal: Sydney Arneson (5) – USAO 2, MACU 1

MATCH SUMMARY

• Mid-America Christian had the best chance at scoring the first goal 10 minutes into the first half when Liz Lozano dumped it from the left side to Marga Franco camping the left side of the box off of a short corner kick, but her 23-yard blast bounced off the middle of the crossbar before the Evangels were flagged for offside on the rebound.
• The Evangels had another great chance in the 31^st minute when Kelsey Henry dished it to Kanasa Spybuck from the middle to the right side of the box, beat her defender and took a shot toward the left post that USAO goalkeeper Keane Harrison made a phenomenal diving save to just get a piece of the ball to push it toward the left post. It appeared Joanne Nakirya was in-place for the rebound and the putback shot, but she was flagged for offside to negate the goal.
• USAO had a good chance a go-ahead goal in the 41^st minute after a foul was called on MACU a few yards outside of the 18-yard box, but Jennifer Starwalt was able to make a diving save on Sydney Arneson's free kick to send the game into the half with a scoreless draw.
• Mid-America Christian had the best first chance in the second half when Brooklyn Fink launched a free kick from the right side about 20 yards from the center line. Her deep ball bounced off the head of a Drovers defender toward the right side of the post, but Harrison made a strong leaping grab to keep the ball from crossing the goal line.
• The Drovers netted the first goal of the contest in the 53^rd minute when Lauren Barrantes was able to intercept Kelsey Henry's cross from the left side, sending a long pass to Sarah George breaking toward the left post. The ball got by Starwalt and George was there for the point-blank putback to make it a 1-0 USAO lead.
• The Evangels were able to find an equalizer with just under 19 minutes remaining when Lozano had the ball poked away from her on the right side of the box, but it trickled out to Johanna Behrens. The senior midfielder launched a deep cross from the right corner toward the left post where Paola Camacho was waiting to slip the tying goal just inside the left post.
• Science & Arts was able to get a response with just over 10 minutes left after a foul was called on the Evangels about 25 yards out from the left side. Arneson, the Drovers free kick specialist sent a shot toward the right side of the goal that bounced in-front of Starwalt and slipped past her to give USAO the lead back at 2-1.
• The Evangels were only able to muster one off-target shot for the remainder of the match as the Drovers survived to advance to the SAC Championship.

MATCH NOTES

• The two teams were very evenly split offensively in the contest as Mid-America Christian held a slim 14-12 edge in shots and a 6-5 margin in shots on-goal.
• Paola Camacho's score in the 72^nd minute was her fourth of the season while Johanna Behrens notched her team-leading ninth assist of the season, tying her with Cici Mitchell for the fourth-most assists in a single season during the NAIA era (2008-present).
• Jennifer Starwalt tallied three saves in goal with two goals given up as she fell to 15-3 on the season in-goal.
• Mid-America Christian fell to Science & Arts in the SAC Semifinal for the second year in a row and the second time at Evangel Field this season after dropping a 3-2 matchup to the Drovers back on Oct. 23. MACU got the better of USAO in Chickasha, Okla. on Mar. 13 as the Evangels came away with a 2-0 victory in that matchup.
• Kyleigh Gibson led the MACU attack with three shots, two of which coming on-goal.

NEXT UP

• Mid-America Christian will now await to find out if it will be a part of the NAIA National Championship field. The selections will be announced on Monday, Apr. 12 at 11 a.m. and the opening rounds will be played from Apr. 15-17.