ATCHISON, Kan. – The No. 17 MACU Men's Soccer team put together a defensively dominant performance at Legacy Field on Thursday night, but the Evangels were unable to find a winner as Benedictine battled MACU to a 0-0 draw.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 0, Benedictine 0
  • Mid-America Christian (1-0-2)
  • Benedictine (1-0-1)

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Benedictine managed to get the first shot on-frame in the 13^th minute when the team's best offensive weapon in Kody Argaetz got an open look on the left side of the box, but his attempt one-hopped into the arms of Alvaro Morera in-goal to keep it scoreless.
  • MACU's first on-chance attempt came in the 19^th minute off a set piece. After Ryan Jeanfreau was taken down on the right side of the Ravens defensive third, Jeanfreau's free kick to the left side eventally found Hayden Hoxie, who tried to go toward the bottom left post on his shot. However, BC goalkeeper Payton Travis made the diving stop to keep it a 0-0 game.
  • The Ravens had a chance with just under 19 minutes to go when a handball called just outside of the 18-yard box set up BC with a great free kick attempt. However, the MACU wall did its job by deflecting Juanes Hernandez's shot before Elias Hirt cleared the ball away.
  • MACU's most dangerous chance in the first half came off the foot of Jeanfreau in the 34^th minute when Henry Tolbert's cross found Jeanfreau open on the right side just outside the box. Jeanfreau cut inside and put a strong shot toward the bottom right corner, but Travis once again made a stellar diving save to keep it tied.
  • Neither team was able to muster another great chance over the final 12 minutes as both teams went into the break all knotted up at 0-0.
• Second Half
  • Mid-America Christian was the early aggressors in the second half, as Tolbert being taken down just outside the left side of the penalty kick set up a great free kick chance, but MACU was unable to get a shot off with just over 41 minutes left.
  • The Evangels had another chance at a go-ahead in the 53^rd minute when a right-side corner by Federico Palacios perfectly found the head of Necsar Rojas on the left side of the box, but he placed the header just barely wide of goal into the side netting for a goal kick.
  • With just over 24 minutes remaining, a sliding tackle by BC's Angulo Andrewws just outside the 18-yard box incited a yellow, setting up a welcoming free kick opportunity for the Evangels from 25-yards away, but the attempted cross was unable to find anyone and out for a free kick.
  • It looked as though Benedictine might get a great one-on-once chance in the final minute when Argaetz managed to get by the MACU defense, but Hayden Hoxie made a game-saving play by to maintain the 0-0 final.

MATCH NOTES

• Despite Mid-America Christian dominating the possession, especially in the second half, the Evangels struggled to get shots off against Benedictine packing the back line, only owning an 8-6 margin in total shots with a slim 2-1 edge in shots on-goal. Neither team managed to get a single shot on-frame in the entire final 45 minutes.
• Josh Macklin and Papa Toure led MACU's offensive efforts with two shots apiece while Hayden Hoxie and Ryan Jeanfreau were the lone Evangels to put a shot on-frame.
• The reigning SAC Defensive Player of the Week Alvaro Morera was not tested often in the contest as he notched his second shutout of the season while only needing to make one relatively easy save for the entire 90-minute match.
• With the two teams just facing off for the second time ever, the Evangels remained unbeaten against the Ravens, moving to 1-0-1 in the all-time series after getting a thrilling last second 1-0 win at the Dill Soccer Field last year over BC.

COACH HOXIE'S ANALYSIS

• "Can't lose if they don't score would be the takeaway from today's game."
• "First half was a feisty, competitive affair. Not dirty, just a quality physical game. I thought the guys handled it well, got settled into the game, and completely dominated the second half as a result."
• "You could sense the game shifting when we were able to take them out of their game plan, and once we started getting on the end of second balls, things opened up for us. We are just missing that little bit of quality in the attacking third at the moment. No one is to blame, it's one of those things that open up once the seal is broke."
• "Massive one for us Saturday at MNU…time to lube up them hammies and give it a right go."

UP NEXT

• Saturday afternoon will feature one of the biggest matches in the NAIA as the 17^th-ranked Evangels will square off against No. 8 MidAmerica Nazarene for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff in Olathe, Kan.