OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU women's soccer team put up a tough fight against its toughest opponent of the season thus far, but the Evangels came up just a little short in their final non-conference match of the regular season in a 2-0 defeat to Bellevue (Neb.) on Saturday night at the Dill Soccer Field.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – BU – 39:32 – Goal: Ximena Juaregui (5) – BU 1, MACU 0
• 2^nd Half – BU – 46:08 – Goal: Ximena Juaregui (6), Assist: Britney Nolte – BU 2, MACU 0

MATCH SUMMARY

• On-goal opportunities came at a premium through the first 25 minutes of the match as MACU's Bruna Faleiro placed one on-target toward the right post in the second minute that was stopped by Bellevue keeper Alessia Ricciardi before Madison Chavez could only poke a soft grounder toward the left post that was easily scooped for the save.
• MACU's first great chance at a go-ahead goal came in the 32^nd minute when a give-and-go chance between Francesca Martella and Chavez on the right side of the box set Martella up with a 14-yarder from the middle toward the left post, but her attempt bounced off the post before Alissa Taylor's rebound follow-up sailed high and wide right.
• It appeared Mid-America Christian (7-1) had the first goal of the match just three minutes later when Chavez was able to break away down the right side before delivering a well-placed cross toward Taylor inside the left half of the penalty box. Taylor tied to re-direct a 10-yarder toward the open right side of the net, but a Bellevue defender was able to get back at the last possible second to clear it off the line to keep MACU off the board.
• Despite not having a shot on-goal to this point, Bellevue (6-1-1) captured the game-winner following a defensive miscue in the 40^th minute. After a ball was played back to Cammy Hargrove at the edge of the box, NAIA All-American Ximena Juaregui was able to win the ball away from the Evangels center back before delivering an open 16-yard slider inside the right post as MACU keeper Rachel Torres tried to stop her at the point of attack, making it a 1-nil game going into the half.
• The Evangels had a chance at an equalizer with just over three minutes to go when Martella popped a 22-yard high floater from the right side toward the top left corner that pinged off the bottom of the crossbar and was pushed out by the Bruins keeper to keep it to a 1-0 game going into the half.
• Immediately to start the second, the Bruins got a big insurance goal in the 47^th minute when Britney Nolte won a ball in the midfield and broke down the right sideline before lofting a deep cross in toward the right post. The floater found the head of Juaregui, who was able to re-direct the header inside the right post, setting the score to 2-nil.
• The Evangels were able to place four more shots on-goal over the rest of the half, but Ricciardi was able to stop everything she faced as the Evangels were shutout for the first time this season.

MATCH NOTES

• Despite suffering the loss, Mid-America Christian held a commanding shot advantage in the game, outshooting the Bruins 18-6 with an 8-4 edge in shots on-goal.
• Francesca Martella led the MACU offensive efforts with four shots, placing two on-goal.
• Rachel Torres suffered her first loss of the season in-goal, falling to 7-1 after conceding a pair of goals and tallying two saves.
• The match marked the first ever meeting between the two programs.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will have a long lay-off before it opens Sooner Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, Sept. 26 as the Evangels will head to McPherson, Kansas to take on Central Christian for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff.