BARTLESVILLE, OKLA. – MACU Women's Soccer wins its first NAIA Tournament game in program history with a dominant 6-0 win over Talladega on Thursday night to advance the Evangels to the NAIA Tournament Second Round.

SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 6, Talladega 0
  • Mid-America Christian (12-4-3)
  • Talladega (Ala.) (6-5)

SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – MACU – 23:49 – Goal: Maria Scopino (8) – MACU 1, TC 0
• 1^st Half – MACU – 35:05 – Goal: Own Goal – MACU 2, TC 0
• 1^st Half – MACU – 39:33 – Goal: Liv Houlston (6) – Assist: Deborah Silveira – MACU 3, TC 0
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 63:39 – Goal: Maria Scopino (9) – Assist: Liv Houlston – MACU 4, TC 0
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 66:45 – Goal: Gladis Avalos (8) – MACU 5, TC 0
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 88:50 – Goal: Madison Chavez (4) – MACU 6, TC 0

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Mid-America Christian started on the front foot from the opening whistle as the Talladega goalkeeper, Alyssa Johnson, was called upon three times in the first 20 minutes coming up with big saves on Abby Sonne, Brae Baker, and Jasie Eischen.
  • The floodgates eventually opened in the 24^th minute as Maria Scopino rifled one from distance into the bottom left corner for the opener.
  • 10 minutes later, Caitlin Hirst put a low driven cross in a dangerous area that deflected twice off a Tornado defender and eventually found the back of the net for an own goal to double the Evangel lead.
  • MACU wasn't done scoring yet, the Evangels added a third from outside the box this time from Liv Houlston who found space 25 yards out and fired it into the top left corner to go 3-0 up in the 40^th minute.
• Second Half
  • The Evangels started the second much like the first by testing the Tornados' goal. Eischen forced a pair of saves from Johnson, before MACU found the back of the net. Scopino scored her second of the game and ninth of the season in the 64^th minute.
  • Gladis Avalos added a fifth three minutes later from a perfect direct free kick from 23 yards out. Avalos curled her effort up and over the wall and into the top left corner.
  • The Evangels continued attacking efforts with corner kicks as Coach Yousey went to his bench. Madison Chavez scored the sixth with a minute remaining by timing her run perfect to knock in the rebound right in front of goal.

MATCH NOTES

• MACU dominated the shots advantage at 15-4, and a 12-2 shots on goal margin.
• Maria Scopino scored a pair of goals for her second brace of the season. Scopino scored two against Texas Wesleyan on Oct. 28. in a 7-0 win during the final regular season game. Brae Baker and Jasie Eischen had a team-high three shots a piece.
• Ariana Solorio had a quiet night in the Evangel net having to make only one save on the only shot she faced in a routine effort for her fourth career shutout.
• MACU defeated Talladega in its first ever meeting between the two schools.
• Mid-America Christian made the NAIA Tournament for the second consecutive season. After a heartbreaking loss in the First Round a season ago to Xavier (La.), the Evangels win marks the first NAIA Tournament win in program history.   

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian advances to the second round of the NAIA Tournament and will face Oklahoma Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. kickoff in Bartlesville, Okla.