OKLAHOMA CITY – The No. 6 MACU men's soccer team was able to hold off a late rally by No. 16 Grace (Ind.) at the Dill Soccer Field on Wednesday night as the Evangels pulled out a 3-2 victory for their first NAIA Top 25 victory of the season.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – MACU – 17:05 – Goal: Kolby Godbolt (2), Assist: Henry Tolbert – MACU 1, GC 0
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 65:38 – Goal: Charlie Betts (1) – MACU 2, GC 0
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 77:17 – Goal: Jack Price (1), Assist: Charlie Betts, Jair Estrada – MACU 3, GC 0
• 2^nd Half – GC – 79:43 – Goal: Martim Sequiera (4) – MACU 3, GC 1
• 2^nd Half – GC – 88:19 – Goal: Juan Garcia (2) – MACU 3, GC 2

MATCH SUMMARY

• Just two minutes into the match, Grace (2-1) nearly took advantage of a major MACU mistake as Martim Sequiera was able to run down an errant throw-in near the top of the 18-yard box, but Emanuele Grumo was able to step in-front of Sequiera's shot from 22-yards out toward goal to minimize the miscue.
• In the 18^th minute, Mid-America Christian (3-0) was able to strike first after a sensational play in the midfield. After an outlet was sent down the right sideline for Henry Tolbert, the speedy sophomore forward made a sensational swim move around the defender before launching a deep cross toward the left side of the 18-yard box. The pass ended up at the foot of Kolby Godbolt as he slid an eight-yarder past the crashing keeper toward the right post to make it a 1-0 MACU lead.
• The Lancers' most dangerous scoring opportunity in the first half came with just over 15 minutes to go until half when Daniel Santos Rosa breaking down the right side of the penalty box found Sequiera crashing in the six-yard box. However, a sliding tackle by Jair Estrada got enough of Sequeira's shot to re-direct it to MACU keeper Claudio Fuentealba, keeping the MACU lead in-tact.
• Five minutes later, Grace had another great chance at an equalizer when a foul was called on MACU from about 30-yards out on the left side, setting up the Lancers with a free kick. On the chance, Sequiera was able to squeeze a shot through the Evangels' wall, hooking toward the left post, but Fuentealba made a strong leaping save to knock the ball down before forcing a Lancers offside call.
• Ten minutes into the second half, the Evangels had a flurry of offensive chances. In the 55^th minute, Godbolt was able to track down a deep send from the right side to the left end of the box and got around a defender for an open look. However, his 16-yard try was thwarted by GC defender Diogo Lopes, who made a sensational slide in from the right side to block Goldbolt's attempt to force a throw-in.
• MACU managed to force two more relatively weak shots on-goal that were saved, but the Evangels were able to cash in during the 66^th minute. On the play, Godbolt tried to make a move inside the left side of the penalty box before being tripped up, creating a penalty kick opportunity. With captain Charlie Betts stepping to the spot, the junior forward deked the goalkeeper into diving left before rolling a shot into the right side to bring the lead to 2-nil.
• Three minutes later, Betts had a great chance to get on the brace when Francois Geris-Rey intercepted a pass on the side before tapping a pass ahead to Betts on the break. However, his 18-yarder from the left side toward the right post was saved by Matteo Conchi on a diving attempt.
• In the 78^th minute, Mid-America Christian came up with what would be the game-winning goal while getting it from one of the most experienced players on the roster. After Diego Real was able to cut through defenders while breaking toward the box, the Evangels made some sensational passes as Estrada sent it on the run of Betts breaking in toward the right post. With plenty of open space, Betts easily found Jack Price attacking the middle, punching in the open four-yarder to give the Evangels their largest lead of the season at 3-0.
• Just a few minutes later, the Lancers pounced on a major MACU mistake when a deep pass from the right side back to Fuentealba near the top of the 18-yard box was mishandled by the keeper, allowing Sequiera to break in and slip a 25-yarder inside the right post for Grace's first goal of the match.
• The Evangels narrowly missed the opportunity to get the goal back less than a minute later when Estrada lofted a free kick deep ball from the right side of midfield toward the left post as the keeper just missed the cross, leaving Pietro Musso wide open for a 10-yarder. However, a tough angle shot caused Musso to bounce his shot off the left post.
• With just under two minutes left, an inauspicious hand-ball call on the Evangels on the edge of the penalty box set up Grace for a free kick opportunity. A left-footed low liner by Juan Garcia slipped just barely by the MACU wall and inside the left post, bringing it to a 3-2 game with 1:38 to go.
• The MACU defense was able to keep the Lancers from firing off a potential equalizer as the Evangels held on for the win.

MATCH NOTES

• Mid-America Christian was able to hold a 12-9 shot advantage over Grace with a 6-5 edge in shots on-goal. After getting outshot 4-3 in the first half, MACU found its rhythm offensively in the second half with a 9-5 attempt lead over the Lancers.
• Charlie Betts led the MACU offensive efforts with a three-point game off a goal and an assist. His 66^th minute score was the first of his Evangels career while his assist to Price was his first dime of the season.
• The first half goal for Kolby Godbolt was his second of the season, moving him into the team-lead while Tolbert's dime on the go-ahead goal marked his second assist of the season. Godbolt led MACU's overall offensive attack with three shot attempts.
• After missing the first two games due to injury, Jack Price netted his 16^th career goal in his third season with the Evangels, moving him into a tie for 10^th with Mason Gonzalez (2020-22) in MACU's NAIA Era record book for career scores.
• Freshman Jair Estrada turned in his first career MACU assist on Price's game-winner.
• The victory over the Lancers marked MACU's first NAIA Top 25 victory of the season while also turning in its third straight one-goal win to start the 2023 campaign.
• Mid-America Christian now holds a 3-0 record all-time against Grace with their last meeting coming in a 5-0 victory in the NCCAA National Championship in Kissimmee, Florida on Dec. 7, 2019.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will be making its return to Olathe, Kansas for the Labor Day weekend as the Evangels will face two more NAIA Top 25 opponents. On Saturday, MACU will face-off against No. 7 Missouri Valley for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Pioneer Field on the campus of MidAmerica Nazarene.