SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. – Senior forward Caitlin Hirst came up clutch for the MACU Women's Soccer team in its final regular season road game as her first career Evangels brace allowed MACU to pull out a huge 2-2 draw against No. 10 John Brown at Alumni Field on Saturday night.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 2, John Brown 2
  • Mid-America Christian (9-3-3, 4-1-3 SAC)
  • John Brown (9-2-4, 6-0-2 SAC)

SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – JBU – 10:46 – Goal: Tianna Jones (4), Assist: Zoe Roberts – JBU 1, MACU 1
• 1^st Half – MACU – 21:49 – Goal: Caitlin Hirst (3), Assist: Brae Baker – MACU 1, JBU 1
• 1^st Half – JBU – 31:01 – Goal: Tianna Jones (5) – JBU 2, MACU 1
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 58:33 – Goal: Caitlin Hirst (4), Assist: Gladis Avalos – MACU 2, JBU 2

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • John Brown attempted a slew of shots through the first 11 minutes as the Golden Eagles got seven shots off with the seventh finding the back of the net when Zoe Roberts crossed it from a contested left side of the box to Tianna Jones on the right, who fired a shot toward the left post that got through multiple MACU defenders and into the back of the net, setting the score to 1-0.
  • In the 22^nd minute, the Evangels found the equalizer as a build-up on the right side with Liv Houlston sending it ahead to Brae Baker. After dribbling through a few defenders to allow some attackers to get down field, Baker delivered a perfect ball to Caitlin Hirst on the right side of the box as she chipped the tying goal over the JBU goalkeeper, bringing it to a 1-1 contest.
  • The Golden Eagles had a golden opportunity to take back the lead in the 26^th minute when Addie Craig got open on the right side, but MACU goalkeeper Ariana Solorio made a sensational leaping save to force the shot away.
  • In the 32^nd minute, the Evangels caught a bit of an unlucky break as a left side corner from Aubrey Winter deflected off of Jones and just barely rolled across the goal line before Solorio could clear it, allowing JBU to take the 2-1 edge.
  • MACU had an excellent chance at an equalizer just two minutes later when Baker was able to get by her defender on a well-placed through ball from Hirst, but unfortunately JBU goalkeeper Marely Fonseca made the kick save on an attempt to slot a shot from the left side to the right post in the 34^th minute.
  • The Golden Eagles also had an opportunity to add one more with five minutes left when Summer Holmes floated a deep shot toward the top left that rattled the crossbar, allowing MACU to only trail by one going into the half.
• Second Half
  • With slick, rainy conditions preventing either side to put together offensive quality, Mid-America Christian took advantage of the first great chance for either side in the 59^th minute. As Cammy Hargrove dribbled up to the midfield and dished it to Gladis Avalos, the senior forward put a perfectly placed through ball to Hirst on the run, who slipped her left side shot past the keeper and off the inside the post to the back of the net, evening it at 2-2.
  • John Brown's best opportunity at a go-ahead came only a minute later when a foul called against MACU on the base line set the Golden Eagles up to chip a free kick into the box. The Evangels managed to block the initial Caitlin Hilson shot for a team save before Solorio stopped Aubrey Winter's shot before falling on it harmlessly to keep the score at bay.
  • The last on-target shot from the Golden Eagles the rest of the way came from Jones from long distance in the 70^th minute, but Solorio snared the easy save to keep it even.
  • MACU's last gasp at a potential game-winner came with 14:40 left when Baker battled one-on-one with a JBU defender on the right side of the box, but her tight-angled shot toward the right post was easily knocked down by Fonseca.
  • Neither team had any good chances over the final 14 minutes as the two teams closed out the 2-2 draw.

MATCH SUMMARY

• Even though John Brown had a multitude of chances, outshooting Mid-America Christian 25-7, the Evangels defense frustrated the Golden Eagles attack by holding JBU to only nine on-goal shots while the Evangels managed to put five of their seven tries on-frame.
• Caitlin Hirst has become a goal-scoring machine for MACU in its last five matches as she not only recorded her first career brace with the Evangels, but she also netted her fourth goal in that time frame.
• Brae Baker and Gladis Avalos tallied the two assists for MACU in the match. The dime for Baker marked her fourth of the season and the 11^th of her two-year Evangels career. For Avalos, it was her second assist of the year and the eighth of her three-MACU tenure.
• Baker was MACU's most aggressive attack with four of MACU's seven shots while putting two of the five on-target.
• Ariana Solorio moved to 5-2-3 in-goal for the Evangels as she notched six saves for a solid .750 save percentage against one of the most elite offenses in the NAIA.
• The result marked the third consecutive regular season match that MACU either came away with a win or forced a draw against the Golden Eagles after the Evangels defeated JBU 2-0 at the Dill Soccer Field back on Oct. 8, 2024. MACU also came away with a 0-0 draw at Alumni Field on Oct. 21, 2023, making the Evangels the only SAC team that JBU did not defeat during its regular season run.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will now prepare for its final home match of the regular season as the Evangels take on Texas Wesleyan on Tuesday night at the Dill Soccer Field. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. for the Senior Night match as MACU will honor its senior class following the conclusion of the contest.