OKLAHOMA CITY – The top-ranked Mid-America Christian men's soccer team will wrap-up its three-match road stand on Friday as the Evangels will face a strong challenge from Science & Arts. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at McLaughlin Field in Chickasha, Okla.
 
MACU SEASON REPORT

• Record: 11-1 (4-0 SAC)
• Last Match: Won at Texas Wesleyan – 6-0 – Oct. 8, 2022 – Fort Worth, Texas
• Top Performers:
  • Rodrigo Albuquerque – GR – F
    • 10 Goals, 3 Assists, 23 Points, 43 Shots, 21 SOG, 2 GWG
  • Ricardo Ferreira – SO – F
    • 8 Goals, 2 Assists, 18 Points, 27 Shots, 16 SOG, 3 GWG
  • Jack Price – SR – M
    • 3 Goals, 4 Assists, 10 Points, 19 Shots, 10 SOG, 1 GWG
  • Jeremi Abonnel – SO – GK
    • 11-1 W-L, 0.09 GAA, 25 Saves, .962 SV%, 10 SHO, 1 CBO
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian was dominant on both ends of the field in a pair of shutout wins at Southwestern Assemblies of God and Texas Wesleyan last week after getting a 5-0 victory at SAGU and a 6-0 win at TXWES.
  • After recording a hat trick against the Lions and adding another goal in the win over the Rams, Rodrigo Albuquerque collected his first SAC Player of the Week award of the season and the sixth in his MACU career while Kareem Williams earned his second SAC Defender of the Week honor.
  • With both players netting four goals during the week, Albuquerque moved into a tie for the league-lead with a total of 10 on the season while Ricardo Ferreira moved into a tie for sixth with his eight shots finding the back of the net.
  • The Evangels continue to be the most dominant defensive team in the NAIA. MACU leads the entire nation in goals allowed average at 0.08 and are one of just two teams in the NAIA to concede only one goal this season. The 11 shutouts pitched by the Evangels ranks second while pitching eight consecutive clean sheets.

SCOUTING REPORT
Science & Arts (Okla.)

• Record: 8-3-1 (3-1 SAC)
• Last Match: Won at (RV) John Brown (Ark.) – 3-0 – Oct. 8, 2022 – Siloam Springs, Ark.
• Series vs. MACU (2008-): USAO leads 11-6-2
• Last Match vs. MACU: MACU won 2-1 – Oct. 19, 2021 – Dill Soccer Field
• Players to Watch:
  • Justin Croke – JR – m
    • 8 Goals, 10 Assists, 26 Points, 52 Shots, 29 SOG, 1 GWG
  • Devon Charles – JR – F
    • 10 Goals, 20 Points, 30 Shots, 16 SOG, 3 GWG
  • Angelo Leendertse – JR – M
    • 5 Goals, 1 Assist, 11 Points, 16 Shots, 7 SOG, 1 GWG
• Team Notes:
  • Science & Arts bounced back from a tough 4-1 loss at Texas Wesleyan last week with a huge 3-0 victory over John Brown in Siloam Springs, Ark. on Saturday, improving the Drovers record to 8-3-1 overall and 3-1 against SAC competition.
  • USAO features a strong offensive attack as it ranks tied for second in the SAC in goals scored on the season with 38, sitting only behind MACU (39) while ranking tied for third in goals per game at 3.17. The Drovers are also won of five teams in the league with a plus-20 goal differential as they are tied for third with John Brown at 23.
  • A bulk of the USAO offense runs through junior midfielder Justin Croke and junior forward Devon Charles. Croke leads the SAC in assists and points with 10 dimes and 26 points while Charles is tied for the league-lead in goals scored with 10.
  • Even though Science & Arts still leads the all-time series between the two squads, Mid-America Christian has dominated the series as of late, winning the last three meetings and are 6-3-2 since the 2016 season with the two ties resulting in MACU wins in penalty kick shootouts during SAC Tournament play. The last time the two teams met in Chickasha on Mar. 13, 2021, the Evangels put together a dominating performance in getting the 5-1 victory. Five different MACU players scored in the contest as Carlos Castrejon was credited with the game-winner while Dante Luz, Luan Cesar, Rodrigo Albuquerque and Bruno Sperandio all chipped in the scoring efforts.