MCPHERSON, Kan. – In a matchup of the last two unbeaten teams in the Sooner Athletic Conference, the No. 1 MACU men's soccer team rallied back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to come away with the 2-1 victory in the SAC opener at Central Christian on Tuesday afternoon.
 
SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – CCCK – 11:59 – Goal: Riccardo Di Vincenzo (2) – CCCK 1, MACU 0
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 47:04 – Goal: Charlie Betts (3) – MACU 1, CCCK 1
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 69:19 – Goal: Jack Price (4), Assist: Diego Real – MACU 2, CCCK 1

MATCH SUMMARY

• Central Christian (5-0-2) put together the first dangerous chance of the match in the second minute when a giveaway in the MACU backfield set up Marco Cherchi for an open shot cutting into the middle of the penalty box, but Evangels keeper Javier Ceballos made a strong stop on the low liner to keep the Tigers off the board.
• Mid-America Christian (7-0-2) had a chance in the ninth minute off a quick counter when Kolby Godbolt delivered a pass from the left sideline toward the left side of the box for Charlie Betts, but CCCK goalkeeper Rodolfo Ramirez made a stellar diving save on Betts' attempt toward the lower right post to keep the match scoreless.
• In the 12^th minute, Central Christian was gifted with its best chance of the contest when a foul was called on the right side of the 18-yard box, allowing the Tigers a penalty kick. At first, it appeared MACU got the save when Ceballos saved the shot attempt by Riccardo Di Vincenzo toward the left post, however a MACU player was called for entering the penalty box before the shot, allowing Di Vincenzo another try. On the second attempt, he was able to Ceballos to dive toward the left post once again before rifling the freebie into the right side, setting the score to 1-nil.
• MACU's only other shot in the half came in the 15^th minute off a quick counter as Diego Real took a long 28-yard from the left side toward the lower right post, but Ramirez had it well covered to keep it tied.
• The Tigers had two more close chances to add to their lead in the 26^th minute and the 30^th minute as CCCK's Johnny Rodriguez had a header off a right-side cross bounce off the left post before Ceballos made a strong sliding save on a Central breakaway before it was eventually cleared out and a follow-up by Hilario Garcia-Delfino sailed high.
• To start the second half, Mid-America Christian swung the momentum in its favor in the 48^th minute when Jack Price was taken down inside the penalty box by a Tigers defender, setting the Evangels up with a PK of their own. On the attempt, Charlie Betts got the keeper to leap toward the left post before sending it into the right side, drawing it even at 1-apiece.
• Seven minutes later, it appeared the Evangels were going to have a great chance at a go-ahead goal when Yasha Schaerer found Kolby Godbolt wide open on a breakaway down the left side with a one-on-one with the keeper. However, his 14-yard low liner aimed toward the right post was kick saved by the keeper to keep it even.
• In the 70^th minute, MACU was finally able to find the winning ball. In the midfield, Real was able to retrieve a dispossessed ball from a Tigers player before lofting a deep send toward Price breaking into the right side, sliding a low-skidding 15-yarder inside the right post to make it a 2-1 game.
• MACU had a chance to add an insurance goal in the 79^th minute when Sebastian Rebolledo got a header on-goal off a Yasha Schaerer corner kick, but Ramirez tallied another save to keep it just a one-goal lead.
• The Tigers were unable to get off an attempt over the final 10 minutes as the Evangels secured the 2-1 victory.

MATCH NOTES

• After being outshot 7-5 in the first half, Mid-America Christian dominated the possession the second half, out-gunning Central Christian 14-2 to hold a 19-9 shot advantage for the match with 7-4 edge in shots on-goal.
• The goals for MACU were scored by Charlie Betts, his third goal of the season while Jack Price put across his fourth of the season to move atop of the team lead.
• Price's score marked the 19^th of his MACU career, moving him into a tie for fifth in career goals during the NAIA Era (2007-present) with former teammate Luan Cesar (2020-22).
• The lone assist of the match went to Diego Real, his second of the season and the 13^th of his career, moving him alone into seventh in the program's record book, sitting just one back of Caleb Roldan (2016-19).
• Junior goalkeeper Javier Ceballos earned his first career win in-goal for the Evangels, allowing just one goal on a penalty kick while tallying three saves for a .750 save percentage for the match.
• With the victory, Mid-America Christian has won its 10 matches in its last 11 meetings with the Tigers dating back to 2007 with the only draw coming in 2021 in a SAC Championship match where MACU was victorious 3-0 in the shootout.
• The win also gives MACU its third straight SAC opening victory.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will be back at home on Saturday as the Evangels will host Science & Arts for Alumni Night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Dill Soccer Field.