OTTAWA, Kan. – The No. 6 MACU men's soccer team shut down one of the best offensive teams in the country last year as the Evangels held Ottawa to just five total shots, its fewest attempts since 2021 as MACU secured a 1-0 victory at Advent Health Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – MACU – 9:51 – Goal: Kolby Godbolt (1), Assist: Henry Tolbert, Jimmy Cabrera – MACU 1, OTT 0

 
MATCH SUMMARY

• Ottawa got the first solid look at the first goal in the sixth minute Vladan Pavolvic got a good look from 10-yards out from right side toward the right post off a quick counter, but Claudio Fuentealba was able to knock it down for his first save to keep the Braves off the board.
• Just under 10 minutes into the match, Mid-America Christian captured the lead when Jimmy Cabrera was able to take it away from just outside of OU's penalty box and delivered it to Henry Tolbert breaking toward the right post. Tolbert delivered a cross to a wide-open Kolby Godbolt on the left side of the box as he rifled in the 8-yarder inside the left post, setting the score to 1-nil.
• The Evangels managed to get four more looks on-goal over the course of the half, including a pair in the 30^th minute off the foot of Phil Appelt, but MACU was unable to pad their lead on either of the attempts.
• In the 42^nd minute, the Evangels found themselves in some major trouble when Yasha Schaerer was called for his second yellow card, putting MACU down a man for the rest of the match.
• However, the Evangels held the Braves without a shot for the rest of the half as MACU took its one-goal lead into the break.
• The man advantage went back to even six minutes into the second half when Ottawa's Felipe Padierna was issued a red card as both teams would play down a man for the final 39 minutes.
• The Evangels had a chance to add to their lead in the 68^th minute off a quick counter when Diego Real launched a deep cross to Phil Appelt breaking into the right side of the box, but his 14-yard low liner toward the left post was saved by Nicolo Cinelli on a diving stab.
• There wasn't another attempted shot on-goal until the 83^rd minute when a foul 30-yards out set up Real for a free kick, but he was unable to put enough power behind his free attempt on-goal as his bouncer was easily scooped by the Braves keeper.

MATCH NOTES

• Mid-America Christian dominated the possession, outshooting Ottawa 16-5 with an 8-2 edge in shots on-goal.
• Another MACU newcomer scored the Evangels lone goal with sophomore forward Kolby Godbolt's 10^th-minute score. The assist for Henry Tolbert was his first of the season, extending his season-high point total to three while freshman Jimmy Cabrera also got credit for his first collegiate assist.
• Phil Appelt led the MACU attack with four shot attempts, all of which were on-goal while Yasha Schaerer also attempted four shots with one finding the target.
• MACU now owns the lead in the all-time series against Ottawa as the two programs competed against each other for the first time in the two programs' respective histories.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will return home to the Dill Soccer Field on Wednesday as the Evangels will host their first NAIA Top 25 opponent of the season in No. 16 Grace (Ind.) for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.