SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. – The MACU women's soccer team displayed great determination, with Annika Gerdau's impressive free-kick goal at Alumni Field making it a one-goal game in the first half, but the Evangels were unable to keep pace with No. 9 John Brown in a 3-1 defeat on Tuesday night to see its SAC Tournament run come to an end in the semifinal round.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – JBU – 4:24 – Goal: Gifte Pavatt (5), Assist: Julia Lambert – JBU 1, MACU 0
• 1^st Half – JBU – 5:28 – Goal: Lauren Walter (15) – JBU 2, MACU 0
• 1^st Half – MACU – 38:37 – Goal: Annika Gerdau (4) – JBU 2, MACU 1
• 2^nd Half – JBU – 60:05 – Goal: Lauren Walter (16) – JBU 3, MACU 1

MATCH SUMMARY

• In a swift opening move, John Brown (15-2-1) wasted no time, finding the back of the net within five minutes of the first half. The opportunity arose from a corner kick executed by Julia Lambert, which bounced before reaching the head of Gifte Pavatt on the second post. Pavatt just redirected the ball into an open net, capitalizing on Rachel Torres's mistimed exit from the goal to make it a 1-0 game.
• A minute later, the Eagles added to their advantage. After securing a rebound at the top of the box. Aniyah Gibbs sent the ball soaring toward the Evangels' goal, but MACU goalkeeper Rachel Torres was unable to seize it, inadvertently dropping it right onto the foot of JBU's leading scorer Lauren Walter, who punched it in to set the 2-nil score.
• Seven minutes before the first half concluded, Annika Gerdau assumed responsibility for a free kick positioned approximately 25 yards from the goal. JBU goalkeeper Emily Dobbins was caught off-guard anticipating a free kick over the four-woman wall on the free kick. Instead, Gerdau slipped a powerful, low line drive inside the left post to close it to a 2-1 game in the 39^th minute.
• Mid-America Christian (14-2-2, 6-1-2 SAC) found itself with a golden opportunity to level the game as Gerdau delivered an extraordinary through ball that set up Mia Willyerd for a one-on-one encounter with Dobbins. However, Willyerd's shot veered wide to the left of the goal, missing the chance to equalize the score.
• In the 61^st minute, the Eagles secured their insurance goal. During a counterattack, Elise Bosma's shot was initially blocked, causing the ball to bounce amidst a scramble involving five players vying for control. Ultimately, Walter managed to gain possession of the ball just atop the penalty mark and she fired it to the right side, sealing John Brown's path to the SAC Championship.

MATCH NOTES

• John Brown dominated possession throughout the match, outshooting the Evangels by a 26-8 margin, which included a 12-3 difference in shots on-goal.
• It was just the second time this season the Evangels conceded three or more goals in a match this season with the last coming in a 3-2 loss at home against Science and Arts on Sept. 30.
• The 26 shot attempts and 12 shots on-goal were both the most the MACU defense had conceded in a match all season while the tandem of Rachel Torres and Makayla Farquharson combined to notch a season-high nine saves in the match.
• The goal for Annika Gerdau marked her fourth of the season, propelling her to third on the team in terms of total points at 15.
• Competing in its third SAC Semifinal match in the last four years, the Golden Eagles successfully prevented MACU from competing in its first ever SAC Tournament Championship match as the Golden Eagles will be rematched against Science & Arts once again for the league title on Friday.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will now start making its preparations for the NCCAA National Championships at the Austin-Tindall Soccer Complex Kissimmee, Florida from Nov. 27-Dec. 2 as the Evangels will serve as the automatic qualifier as the Central Region representative. The Evangels will be playing in their sixth NCCAA National Championship event since the 2014 season.