OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU women's soccer team found itself down at home against Texas Wesleyan but behind the scoring efforts Francesca Martella, the Evangels were far from out as the two-goal effort by the junior midfielder propelled the Evangels to a 2-1 victory at the Dill Soccer Field on Saturday night.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – TWU – 28:41 – Goal: Kiki Molinar (3), Assist: Gracie Spradley – TWU 1, MACU 0
• 1^st Half – MACU – 42:24 – Goal: Francesca Martella (3), Assist: Jasmine Morales – MACU 1, TWU 1
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 57:25 – Goal: Francesca Martella (4), Assist: Annika Gerdau, Daniela Paez – MACU 2, TWU 1

MATCH SUMMARY

• Both squads struggled to generate much offense through the first 24 minutes as Texas Wesleyan (4-6-1, 1-3 SAC) was the first team to put a shot on-target at the 24:46 mark after a giveaway in the MACU midfield led to a long shot from TWU's top striker Gracie Spradley from 25-yards out. However, the shot lacked much power as MACU keeper Makayla Farquharson had the easy scoop save.
• In the 29^th minute, the Lady Rams took advantage of a perfectly executed corner kick by Spradley as the right side corner found the head of Kiki Molinar crashing in on-goal, heading in the go-ahead goal through the right side to make it a 1-0 TWU edge.
• It looked as though Mid-America Christian (9-2-1, 2-1-1 SAC) found its equalizer in the 36^th minute when Alison Mora tracked down a loose ball at the edge of the 18-yard box off the head of a TWU defender and lofted a 25-yarder toward the top right corner, but it deflected off the crossbar before being cleared away by the Lady Rams defense.
• Despite the offensive struggled throughout the first half, the Evangels finally got their tying goal from a reliable source in the 43^rd minute. With Jasmine Morales taking a corner from the right side, the low liner found the foot of Francesca Martella on the right side of the box, putting a perfectly placed seven-yarder into the top middle of the goal to make it 1-1 going into the half.
• In the 58^th minute, MACU found its match-winner when Daniela Paez lofted a perfectly placed deep pass down the left side that Annika Gerdau was able to track down before going out the end line. The junior forward relayed a cross back over toward the middle of the box for Martella, powering a 12-yarder into the left side that just barely glanced off the hand of the keeper and inside the left post, setting the score to 2-1.
• The Evangels dominated the possession for the rest of the half, putting a barrage of shots on-goal, but the closest opportunity came off another crossbar shot in the 88^th minute. With just 2:40 remaining, Kadin Stinson had a deep shot from the right side toward the top left corner, but once again, the attempt pinged off the crossbar before being cleared out by the Lady Rams defense to ultimately seal the 2-1 result.

MATCH NOTES

• Despite holding just a 7-5 shot edge with a the two teams even at two-apiece in shots on-goal in the first half, Mid-America Christian thoroughly dominated the possession in the second half, outshooting Texas Wesleyan 15-0 with eight of the tries finding the target.
• Francesca Martella recorded her first career brace in her second year with MACU, netting her sixth and seventh career goals while moving into a tie for third in the team's goal scoring this year with four so far. Martella has netted all four of her goals within the last four games.
• The assist for Annika Gerdau on the game-winner marked her team-leading fifth on the season, matching her with Madison Chavez. Jasmine Morales also tallied an assist for her second while Paez was also credited with her second assist as well.
• Gerdau led the MACU offensive attack with a match-high six shots, five of which were on-goal.
• After subbing in at goal to start the second half, Rachel Torres recorded her ninth win of the season, but did not face a single shot on-goal over the final 45 minutes of the match.
• The Evangels have now won five straight meetings against the Lady Rams with the last four matches ending in a 2-1 final score.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will be back on its home pitch on Saturday, Oct. 14 as the Evangels will host Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) for a 5 p.m. kickoff at the Dill Soccer Field.