OKLAHOMA CITY – The No. 5 Mid-America Christian men's soccer team is ready to conclude its highly-challenging non-conference schedule against its fourth-ranked opponent this season as the Evangels host No. 22 Morningside (Iowa) for a 2 p.m. kickoff at the Mike & Helen Dill Soccer Field on Saturday.
 
MACU SEASON REPORT

• Record: 7-0
• Last Match: Won vs. No. 10 Bellevue (Neb.) – 2-1 – Sept. 18, 2021 – Wichita, Kan. (Stryker Sports Complex)
• Stat Leaders:
  • Rodrigo Albuquerque – SR – F
    • 8 Goals, 3 Assists, 19 Points, 33 Shots, 20 SOG, 3 GWG
  • Ricardo Ferreira – FR – F
    • 5 Goals, 3 Assists, 13 Points, 13 Shots, 9 SOG, 1 GWG
  • Cesar Ramirez – SR – M
    • 6 Assists, 6 Points, 21 Shots, 5 SOG
  • Jeremi Abonnel – FR – GK
    • 7-0 Record, 1.14 GAA, 14 Saves, .636 SV%
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian is coming off one of its highest profile wins in program history when it defeated No. 10 Bellevue 2-1 on Rodrigo Albuquerque's game-winning goal in the 86^th minute at the Stryker Sports Complex on Sept. 18.
  • Albuquerque's offensive outburst in the last three weeks has allowed him to skyrocket up to the top in MACU's career record books. Last week, Albuquerque surpassed Raphael Bonelle (37) as the team's all-time leading goal scorer with 40 thus far in his career. Albuquerque has also surpassed Bonelle (16) as the team's all-time leading assists leader with 17 while also topping out the lead in the points category with 97.
  • On Wednesday, Mid-America Christian moved into the top five of the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll while also garnering the only two first-place votes aside from No. 1 Central Methodist (Mo.).
  • MACU's has been an offensive juggernaut at the Mike & Helen Dill Soccer Field so far this season. The Evangels in four matches at home are outscoring their opponents, 18-4.

SCOUTING REPORT
No. 22 Morningside (Iowa)

• Record: 5-2
• Last Match: Lost at (RV) Northwestern (Iowa) – 2-1 (OT) – Sept. 22, 2021 – Orange City, Iowa
• Series History: Series Tied 0-0-1
• Last Match vs. MACU: Tied 2-2 – Apr. 22, 2021 – Bethel, Tenn. (NAIA Opening Round) – MACU advanced 4-2 in shootout
• Stat Leaders:
  • Robin Tholama – JR – F
    • 5 Goals, 2 Assists, 12 Points, 24 Shots, 13 SOG, 1 GWG
  • Moritz Lusch – SR – M
    • 4 Goals, 5 Assists, 13 Points, 19 Shots, 12 SOG, 1 GWG
  • Victor Beker – SO – M/F
    • 2 Goals, 5 Assists, 9 Points, 10 Shots, 5 SOG, 1 GWG
  • Bjarne Huth – JR – GK
    • 4-2 Record, 1.46 GAA, 28 Saves, .778 SV%, 2 SHO
• Team Notes:
  • Morningside comes into the matchup after suffering its second loss of the season in a 2-1 overtime loss at Northwestern (Iowa) on Sept. 22. The Mustangs gave up the golden goal just before the overtime buzzer with nine second remaining in the first OT period.
  • While MC is efficiently averaging 3.43 goals on 14.6 shots per game, the Mustangs have allowed 10 goals, seven of which coming in their two losses on the season.
  • Robin Tholama and Moritz Lusch have been the primary attackers for the Mustangs, recording nine of MC's 24 goals this season.
  • Facing each other for the second time in program history, the last time the two teams met was in a thrilling match at the NAIA Opening Round this past spring. In that Apr. 22 matchup, Mason Gonzalez scored the game-tying goal with less than two minutes left before the match needed to go to a penalty kick shootout after ending in a 2-2 tie. In that shootout, Juan Cediel made a pair of crucial saves while Luan Cesar, Dejue Johnson and Rodrigo Albuquerque each netted their PK's before Mandela Singh-Sharpe allowed the Evangels to advance on his match-sealing boot.