OKLAHOMA CITY – Coming off one of its best seasons in program history, the No. 9 Mid-America Christian men's soccer team is preparing to open its 2021 season with a high-profile matchup against Hastings (Neb.) at Evangel Field on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

 
MACU SEASON REPORT (2020-21)

• 2020-21 Record: 15-4-3 (6-1-1 SAC) – SAC Tournament Champions
• Last Match: L vs. St. Thomas (Fla.) – 1-0 – May 4, 2021 – Evans, Ga. – NAIA Quarterfinals
• Stat Leaders:
  • Rodrigo Albuquerque – SR - F
    • 17 Goals (1^st), 10 Assists (1^st), 44 Points (1^st), 10 GWG (1^st), 114 Shots (1^st), 57 SOG (1^st)
  • Mason Gonzalez – SR - F
    • 7 Goals (2^nd), 2 Assists, 16 Points (2^nd), 39 Shots (4^th), 22 SOG (2^nd)
  • Cesar Ramirez – SR - M
    • 6 Goals (3^rd), 4 Assists (4^th), 16 Points (2^nd), 52 Shots (2^nd), 22 SOG (2^nd), 1 GWG (2^nd)
  • Dante Luz – SR – D
    • 4 Goals (4^th), 7 Assists (2^nd), 15 Points (4^th), 17 Shots, 9 SOG
  • Sven van den Oever – JR – GK
    • 8-2-2 Record, 0.71 GAA (1^st), 5 SHO (1^st), 17 Saves (2^nd), .654 SV% (2^nd)
• Team Notes:
  • Coming off winning its second Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament title in three seasons.
  • Made it past the NAIA Opening Round for the second time in that time frame, defeating Morningside (Iowa) 4-2 in PK's following a 2-2 draw in the Opening Round semifinal before knocking off Bethel 3-2 on Mandela Singh-Sharpe's golden goal in the 109^th minute of the Opening Round final.
  • Has amassed an overall record of 61-20-8 (.730) and a 24-9-3 (.708) mark in Sooner Athletic Conference play since the 2017 season.
  • The Evangels head into the matchup as the ninth-ranked team in the NAIA preseason poll, its highest ranking ever in the rankings.
  • Danny Frid will be seeking his first win as the head coach in his first season at the helm. Frid is in his third season with MACU after serving as the head assistant coach for the past two seasons.

PLAYER TO WATCH

• #16 Rodrigo Albuquerque
  • NCCAA DI First Team All-American, NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, All-SAC First Team and SAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2020-21.
  • Led the NAIA and set the program record in game-winning goals with 10 on the season. Also broke the program's single season record with 10 assists on the year.
  • Albuquerque's 17 goals and 44 points were second in program history, sitting only behind Dominik Tajak's 2017 record of 23 goals and 49 points.
  • The Recife, Brazil product scored the golden goal in the 94^th minute in a 1-0 victory at Southwestern Assemblies of God on Nov. 13, 2020.

 
SCOUTING REPORT
Hastings (Neb.)

• 2020-21 Record: 11-4-1 (8-2-1 GPAC)
• Last Match: L @ Missouri Valley – 4-0 – Apr. 24, 2021 – Marshall, Mo. – NAIA Opening Round
• Series History – N/A
• Last Match vs. MACU:  N/A
• Top Returning Players:
  • Lukas Goetz – JR – F
    • 11 Goals (1^st), 2 Assists, 24 Points (1^st), 42 Shots (1^st), 25 SOG (1^st), 4 GWG (1^st)
  • Tom Steging – SR – F
    • 6 Goals (2^nd), 5 Assists (2^nd), 17 Points (2^nd), 33 Shots (2^nd), 20 SOG (2^nd), 1 GWG (3^rd)
  • David Panter – SR – F
    • 5 Goals (3^rd), 5 Assists (2^nd), 15 Points (3^rd), 33 Shots (2^nd), 14 SOG (3^rd), 2 GWG (2^nd)
  • Tyler Mase – JR – M
    • 6 Goals (2^nd), 2 Assists, 14 Points (4^th), 19 Shots, 9 SOG (4^th), 1 GWG (3^rd)
• Team Notes:
  • One of the top NAIA programs in the country over the last six seasons, amassing a 92-10-5 (.883) since going 25-0 and winning the NAIA National Championship in 2016.
  • Hastings has won two NAIA National Championships in 2010 and 2016 while also being the national runner-up in 2011 and 2019.
  • During the 2020-21 NAIA Opening Round in the spring, advanced to the Opening Round Final, where the Broncos lost to eventual national champion Missouri Valley 4-0.
  • Team returns its top four scorers from last season's team, but will be having a new look defensively after losing starting goalkeeper Jesus Parra to graduation.
  • Receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll.