OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team put together a dominant defensive performance before
Francesca Martella booted in a 35-yarder into the right side of the net in the 80
th minute to propel the Evangels to a 1-0 victory over Southwestern Christian at the Dill Soccer Field on Tuesday night.
SCORING SUMMARY
MATCH SUMMARY
- Mid-America Christian had limited opportunities in the first half, being held to only four shots with three landing on-goal. The best opportunity for the Evangels came in the 23rd minute when Kadin Stinson was able to run down Daniela Paez's through ball down the left side before dribbling around two defenders. However, her 27-yarder didn't have much power behind it as SCU goalkeeper Celeste Lucio made a relatively easy save on the shot toward the right side.
- MACU held a 4-2 shot advantage in the first 45 minute with a 3-0 edge in shots on-goal as the two teams went into half in a scoreless deadlock.
- Stinson had MACU's first on-goal attempt in the second half at the 67:29 mark when Annika Gerdau's pass found her open breaking toward the left side of the box, but the 25-yard attempt toward the right post slipped through the hands of Lucio and off her knee while going out the back line for a corner kick.
- Mid-America Christian's best chance came with 18 minutes left when a deep cross from the right side off the head of Gerdau toward Cammy Hargrove on the left side of the box. Even though Lucio was able to slide in and knock the ball away, it landed at the foot of Paez, who tried to fire a quick shot back in toward the left side. However, Lucio made a phenomenal play by getting up just in the nick of time to make the diving save, keeping it to a scoreless game.
- A few minutes later, Hargrove would get a good look from 26-yards out on the left side when Gerdau tapped a pass back from the top of the box off the relay from Paez, but Lucio made another stellar diving save for the score to remain 0-0 with 13:36 left.
- With 10:40 remaining, MACU was finally able to find its winner. After the ball was cleared out of the area of the 18-yard box by an SCU defender, Francesca Martella batted the ball down with her right foot before quickly lofting a deep 35-yard shot from the middle toward the right side. Lucio initially got her hands on the leaping attempt, but the ball popped out as she came back down to her feet and fell back into the right side of the net, making it a 1-0 Evangels' advantage.
- Mid-America Christian had a chance to add some insurance in the 83rd minute when Jasie Eischen put a stellar cross into the box from the right side that found the head of Gerdau, but Lucio made an unbelievable full-extension save on the 12-yarder toward the left post, holding it to a 1-0 final score.
MATCH NOTES
- Mid-America Christian controlled the possession for the entire match, outshooting Southwestern Christian 12-2 with an 8-0 margin in shots on-goal. The Evangels were especially dominant in the second half with eight shots, five of which were on-target while the Eagles were unable to put up a single shot against the MACU defense.
- Martella's 80th minute score was her third goal of the season and her second game-winner since booting in the winner in the 26th minute of a 2-1 victory at Southwestern Assemblies of God on Oct. 4. Martella also led the offensive efforts with four shots, two of which were on-frame while Kadin Stinson also tallied two on-goal shot attempts.
- Makayla Farquharson earned her fifth win of the season, improving to 5-7-2 in-goal and notched her second shutout of the year.
- With the win, Mid-America Christian improved to 5-9-2 with a 4-2-2 record in Sooner Athletic Conference play while the Eagles fell to 3-7-4 with a 1-5-2 league mark. The victory also kept MACU undefeated against Southwestern Christian as the Evangels are now 14-0 all-time against SCU.
- Coming into the evening tied for the No. 4 spot in the SAC with Wayland Baptist, the Evangels surpassed the Pioneers after WBU fell 2-1 at home to No. 21 Science & Arts on Tuesday night.
UP NEXT
- Mid-America Christian will wrap-up regular season play on the road as the Evangels will head to Goodwell, Okla. for a meeting with Oklahoma Panhandle State on Friday, Oct. 28. Kickoff is slated for noon at Anchor D. Stadium.
