OKLAHOMA CITY – The Anthony Yousey era is set to begin for the Mid-America Christian women's soccer team as the Evangels host MidAmerica Nazarene for a 5 p.m. kickoff in their season and home opener at Evangel Field on Saturday.

 
MACU SEASON REPORT (2020-21)

• 2020-21 Record: 15-3 (8-1 SAC)
• Last Match: L vs. Science & Arts (Okla.) – 2-1 – Apr. 5, 2021 – Oklahoma City, Okla. – SAC Semifinals
• Stat Leaders (Returning):
  • Kelsey Henry – SR - F
    • 14 Goals (2^nd), 5 Assists (5^th), 33 Points (2^nd), 43 Shots (4^th), 25 SOG (4^th), 2 GWG (3^rd)
  • Kyleigh Gibson – SR - F
    • 12 Goals (3^rd), 5 Assists (5^th), 29 Points (3^rd), 48 Shots (2^nd), 31 SOG (2^nd), 5 GWG (2^nd)
  • Joanne Nakirya – SR - F
    • 11 Goals (3^rd), 3 Assists, 25 Points (4^th), 47 Shots (3^rd), 27 SOG (3^rd)
  • Marga Franco – SR – M
    • 4 Goals, 8 Assists (2^nd), 16 Points (5^th), 26 Shots, 12 SOG, 2 GWG (2^nd)
  • Jennifer Starwalt – SR – GK
    • 15-3 Record, 0.80 GAA (1^st), 9 SHO (1^st), 38 Saves (1^st), .731 SV% (1^st)
• Team Notes:
  • Turned in its best finish ever in Sooner Athletic Conference, going 8-1 against SAC competition and placing second in the SAC standings.
  • Put together the best offensive season in program history, scoring 79 goals, breaking the previous record of 75 set during the 2019 season while blowing away the assist record with 61 (previous record: 46, 2017) and the points record with 219 (previous record: 192, 2019).
  • The Evangels return six of their top seven goal scorers from the 2020-21 campaign, led by NCCAA Central Region Player of the Year Kelsey Henry, who tallied 14 goals and five assists for 33 points.
  • The Evangels also bring back some stellar midfield play with Marga Franco and Johanna Behrens. During the 2020-21 season, Behrens notched the fourth-most assists in a single campaign with nine while Franco finished right behind with eight dimes on the year.
  • MACU brings in some big time offensive talent in Kadin Stinson and Daniela Paez. The two players at Barton Community College were two of the top players in the NJCAA, as Stinson scored the 10^th-most goals at the Division I level with 13 while Paez notched the fifth-most assists with 11 on the year.
  • Defensively, the Evangels bring back a fifth-year starter at goalkeeper in Jennifer Starwalt. Last season, the Moore, Okla. product put together one of her finest seasons, ending the campaign with a 15-3 record in goal with a 0.80 goals against average, pitched nine shutouts and made 38 saves for a .731 save percentage.
  • Starwalt, who currently owns the program record for most career wins (42) will be looking to break a pair of records, as she is currently tied for the record in shutouts with Melissa Dobie in shutouts (24) and is 55 stops from catching Dobie's saves record (360)

PLAYER TO WATCH

• #16 Kadin Stinson
  • During her last season at Barton, Kadin Stinson netted the third-most game-winning goals at the Division I level (5) while turning in the 10^th-most overall goals (13).
  • In MACU's preseason scrimmages, Stinson flashed off some stellar goal-scoring ability, netting a pair of high difficulty shots and scored one of MACU's two goals in a 2-1 win over Central Oklahoma in the Evangels' preseason finale.

 
SCOUTING REPORT
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)

• 2020-21 Record: 9-6-2 (7-2-2 Heart of America Conference)
• Last Match: L vs. Benedictine (Kan.) – 2-1 – Apr. 3, 2021 – Olathe, Kan. – Heart Quarterfinals
• Series History – MNU leads 2-0
• Last Match vs. MACU:  MNU won 2-1 – Sept. 4, 2009 – Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Top Returning Players:
  • Alissa Ward – SO - F
    • 8 Goals (1^st), 2 Assists (4^th), 18 Points (1^st), 23 Shots, 18 SOG (3^rd), 1 GWG (3^rd)
  • Itztar Rodriguez – SR – M
    • 7 Goals (2^nd), 2 Assists (4^th), 16 Points (2^nd), 26 Shots (5^th), 14 SOG (5^th)
  • Elvia Villagomez – SR – M
    • 5 Goals (3^rd), 5 Assists (2^nd), 15 Points (3^rd), 33 Shots (2^nd), 14 SOG (3^rd), 2 GWG (2^nd)
  • Kailee Barnhardt – SR – GK
    • 6-4-1, 1.51 GAA (1^st), 30 Saves (1^st), .638 SV% (1^st), 2 (1^st)
• Team Notes:
  • MidAmerica Nazarene is one of the stronger programs from out of the Heart of America Conference, producing six straight winning seasons after going 9-6-1 during the 2020-21 campaign. The Pioneers placed fourth in the league standings with a 7-2-2 league mark.
  • A team that averaged 2.2 goals per game in 2020, MNU brings back much of its offensive talent from last season. Sophomore forward Alissa Ward led the balanced Pioneers attack with a team-high eight goals and 18 points while officially converting goals on a third of her shot attempts and placing 18 of her attempts on-target.
  • Defensively, MidAmerica Nazarene brings back its two top goalkeepers with senior keeper Kailee Barnhardt seeing most of the action. Barnhardt turned in a 6-4-1 record for the Pioneers, finishing with a team-best 1.51 GAA on a .638 save percentage.
  • The Evangels and Pioneers will be facing each other for the first time in more than a decade. The last time MNU came to Evangel Field, the Pioneers rallied back after MACU's Lindsey McKinney scored a goal in the sixth minute by getting scores in the 36^th and 48^th minutes to sneak away with a 2-1 victory on Sept. 4, 2009.