OKLAHOMA CITY – The Sooner Athletic Conference released its 2023 women's soccer preseason poll on Tuesday morning as Mid-America Christian was selected third in the initial rankings voted upon by the league's 10 head coaches.
Under third-year head coach Anthony Yousey, the Evangels split third in the poll with the team they finished in a tie for third in the SAC standings last season, Oklahoma City, with both teams gathering 69 points. MACU placed 12 points ahead of Texas Wesleyan (57) in fifth while Wayland Baptist (52) came in sixth.
The 2022 SAC Tournament Champion, John Brown was picked to win the conference, holding a slim margin over Science & Arts as the Golden Eagles notched 87 points and six first-place votes while the Drovers tallied 84 points and four first-place votes.
After going through some growing pains in the non-conference slate last season with a relatively new roster, the Evangels were able to put together some strong play once entering SAC competition in 2022 as MACU finished in a tie for third with a 5-2-2 mark to finish 6-10-2 overall.
MACU returns a large portion of its scoring and defense from last season, including the team's top point-scorer and SAC Newcomer of the Year and All-SAC Second Team performer Francesca Martella, junior forward and All-SAC Second Team honoree Annika Gerdau and All-SAC First Team sophomore defender Cammy Hargrove.
Last season, Gerdau and Martella were the team's top two point scorers last season with 10 points off three goals and four assists apiece.
MACU also returns three other All-SAC Second Team performers in sophomore forward Kealy Juarez, who netted three goals during her rookie campaign, junior forward Jasmine Morales and senior defender Daniela Paez, who has dished out six assists in her two-year MACU career.
The Evangels bring back their top stopper in the net in senior goalkeeper Makayla Farquharson. Last year, the Canadian keeper turned in a 1.40 goals allowed average and notched 69 saves on a .758 save percentage to go with three shutouts.
Mid-America Christian will officially open the season on Thursday, August 24 as the Evangels will host Missouri Baptist for a 5 pm kickoff at the Dill Soccer Field.
