HOBBS, N.M. – The MACU women's soccer team took care of business in wrapping up its three-match road stand on Saturday as a three-goal effort from sophomore forward Gladis Avalos propelled the Evangels to a dominant 5-1 victory over the University of the Southwest at Bob Moran Field on Saturday.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – MACU – 3:36 – Goal: Alison Mora (1) – MACU 1, USW 0
• 1^st Half – MACU – 27:30 – Goal: Gladis Avalos (2) – MACU 2, USW 0
• 1^st Half – USW – 35:03 – Goal: Rylee Thatcher (3) – MACU 2, USW 1
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 65:28 – Goal: Gladis Avalos (3) – MACU 3, USW 1
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 83:57 – Goal: Gladis Avalos (4), Assist: Annika Gerdau – MACU 4, USW 1
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 86:00 – Goal: Jasmine Morales (4) – MACU 5, USW 1

MATCH SUMMARY

• Mid-America Christian jumped out to an early lead almost right out of the gate in the fourth minute when a failed clearance by Southwest found the foot of Alison Mora near the top of the 18-yard box. The freshman forward fired a rocket into the top right corner of the goal, out of the reach of the keeper to make it a 1-0 Evangels advantage.
• In the 11^th minute, the Mustangs had a great chance at an equalizer from just outside the penalty box, but on Kayla Reynaud's free kick from about 25-yards out on the right side, MACU goalkeeper Rachel Torres made a sensational leaping save to knock the shot aimed toward the crossbar down before falling on it to complete the save.
• With 12:30 to go in the first half, Gladis Avalos put through what would be the game-winner when she was able to dribble through multiple defenders on the break down the right side before slipping a low skidding shot just inside the right post to make it a 2-0 game.
• In the 36^th minute, Southwest's only goal of the game would be an uncontested variety as the Evangels were called for a foul inside the 18-yard box, setting up the Mustangs with a penalty kick. USW's top striker Rylee Thatcher fired her PK in through the left post to cut the USW deficit to 2-1 heading into the half.
• While both teams had a few opportunities in the early going of the second half, it wasn't until the 66^th minute when Avalos found herself on the brace. After a long ball was sent into the box from the right side, a battle for the ball between the USW keeper and a MACU forward in the middle of the box allowed the ball to pop free to Avalos being in the right place at the right time on the left side, firing her second goal into the empty net to bring the score to 3-1.
• With 6:13 left, Avalos pushed across another easy opportunity in-goal when Annika Gerdau's cross into the congested box found the foot of Avalos, punching in the five-yarder from the middle before the keeper could react to stretch the MACU advantage to three.
• Just for good measure, the Evangels netted one more just moments later when Jasmine Morales fired in her fourth goal of the season from the right side to wrap-up the 5-1 final.

MATCH NOTES

• Mid-America Christian held a commanding 17-7 shot advantage over Southwest with a 12-5 differential in shots on-goal.
• Gladis Avalos, Madison Chavez, Alison Mora and Jasmine Morales led the balanced MACU offensive attack with three shots apiece.
• Avalos became the first MACU women's soccer player to record a hat trick in a match since Joan Nakirya against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Nov. 6, 2020, scoring on all three of her shot attempts in the match.
• The goal from Morales in the final minutes put her back into a tie for the team-lead in goal scoring with Avalos with four so far through the first four matches of the season.
• Just one of MACU's five scores was assisted as Annika Gerdau notched her first dime of the 2023 campaign.
• Rachel Torres earned her fourth win of the year in-net for MACU after allowing just one penalty kick goal and made a pair of saves while Makayla Farquharson also tallied a pair of stops toward the end of the match.
• MACU improved to 2-0 all-time against the Mustangs after picking up a 3-1 win against USW at Brian Harvey Field on the campus of Oklahoma City University on Sept. 5, 2022.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will have a short turnaround as the Evangels will be back home on Labor Day Monday for a 5 p.m. kickoff against McPherson (Kan.) at the Dill Soccer Field.