OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Men's Soccer team faced a stiff challenge at the Dill Soccer Field in its final non-conference match on Saturday night as the Evangels fell to NCAA D-II Oklahoma Christian by a score of 4-0.
 
SCORE

• Oklahoma Christian 4, Mid-America Christian 0
  • Mid-America Christian (2-4-2)
  • Oklahoma Christian (1-2-1)

SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – OC – 3:30 – Goal: Igor Caballero (1); Assists: Mason Tracey, Luca Winder – OC 1, MACU 0
• 1^st Half – OC – 6:56 – Goal: Ethan Nakolo (4) – OC 2, MACU 0
• 1^st Half – OC – 18:40 – Goal: Ethan Nakolo (5); Assists: Luis Alvis, Mason Tracey – OC 3, MACU 0
• 2^nd Half – OC – 64:30 – Goal: Ethan Nakola (6); Assists: Luca Friederich, Igor Caballero – OC 4, MACU 0

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Oklahoma Christian took advantage of the first advantage it had in the fourth minute when Luca Winder's right-side relay got on the run of Mason Tracy, who pitched a perfect cross for Igor Caballero's cross punch from left to the right side behind the outstretched foot of Alvaro Morera, making it a 1-0 OC lead.
  • The Eagles added to their advantage just three minutes later when a failed clearance by the MACU defense ended up at the foot of OC's top striker Ethan Nakolo as he took a one-time dribble from his left to the right before rifling a 14-yarder into the top left corner to set the score to 2-0.
  • OC added one more to its line in the 19^th minute when Tracy dribbled by his defender on the right side and delivered a perfect pass to Luis Alvis near the right post. He tapped a one-timer back toward Nakolo crashing into the box, and powering a strong strike inside the right post.
  • Haruya Higuchi recorded MACU's lone shots in the first half on a header in the ninth minute and a high rifle in the 31^st minute, but he was unable to convert either attempt as the Evangels trailed 3-0 heading into the break.
• Second Half
  • Mid-America Christian had some momentum to start the second half as the Evangels attempted the first four shots with Henry Tolbert putting a powerful strike that was saved in the 51^st minute before Ryan Jeanfreau had a missile that bounced off the underside of the crossbar and out in the 52^nd minute, keeping it a 3-0 game.
  • Tracey also had his own shot that hit the crossbar from a right side cross in the 62^nd minute before Nakolo connected with his hat trick goal on a header in the 65^th minute off Igor Caballero's right side corner that bounced off the head of Luca Friederich to Nakolo unmarked on the left side in toward the right post.
  • MACU fired the last five shot attempts in the final 15 minutes, but all its attempts were either blocked or off-target as the Eagles held on for the 4-0 win.

MATCH NOTES

• Despite the four-goal result, Mid-America Christian managed to out-shoot Oklahoma Christian by a 12-10 margin. However, MACU only managed to put two shots on-frame while all four of the Eagles shots on-frame found the back of the net.
• Multiple Evangels got involved on the offensive side with eight different players attempting shots while Federico Palacios and Henry Tolbert managed to put the only shots on-frame.
• It was a tough night for Alvaro Morera in-goal as he fell to 1-4-2 in-goal and allowed four goals without making a save.
• The Evangels didn't have an answer for the stellar striker Ethan Nakolo, who finished the match with a hat trick.
• MACU will now need to focus its attention toward Sooner Athletic Conference play as the Evangels will open league competition next week.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will open Sooner Athletic Conference play on the road next Saturday as the Evangels will travel to Brian Harvey Field for a SAC Championship rematch against Oklahoma City. That contest is slated for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.