OKLAHOMA CITY – In one of the featured NAIA Games of the Week with it being the Sooner Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Championship rematch, the contest ended up being a downright thriller at Brian Harvey Field on Saturday night. Junior forward Federico Palacios netted the game-tying goal with three minutes left as Mid-America Christian forced a 2-2 draw at Oklahoma City.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 2, Oklahoma City 2
  • Mid-America Christian (2-5-3, 0-0-1 SAC)
  • Oklahoma City (6-3-1, 0-0-1 SAC)

SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – OCU – 5:22 – Goal: Harrison Knight (2) – OCU 1, MACU 0
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 55:46 – Goal: Haruya Higuchi (1) – MACU 1, OCU 1
• 2^nd Half – OCU – 82:12 – Goal: Harrison Knight (3) – OCU 2, MACU 1
• 2^nd Half – MACU – 86:55 – Goal: Federico Palacios (3) – MACU 2, OCU 2

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Oklahoma City took advantage of its first chance at goal in the sixth minute as Thomas Brulay's initial shot hit off the post before Dante Caffaro made a stopping save at the point of attack on Bernardo Duarte's rebounded attempt. However, the Evangels were unable to clear it as Thomas Knight crashed in toward the left post and punched in the open shot to make it an early 1-0 Stars lead.
  • OCU had a chance to add to it in the 11^th minute when Ethan Taylor rifled a strong shot toward the bottom right post, but Caffaro made a sensational diving save to keep it to a one-goal deficit.
  • Mid-America Christian narrowly missed the equalizer in the 17^th minute when he got past all of his defenders to set up a one-on-one with the keeper, but his flick toward goal sailed just wide left.
  • The Evangels had a chance in the 31^st minute when Henry Tolbert was fouled from 30-yards out, but Alexis Bertrand made a finger save on Ryan Jeanfreau's free kick to keep it a one-goal game.
  • MACU had a chance late in the half when a cross toward the left side of the box found Higuchi's head, but his cross-field header went just right of post in the 43^rd minute as the score held 1-0 heading into the half.
• Second Half
  • The Evangels caught a bit of a break in the 51^st minute when Harrison Knight got by his defender on the left side and lofted a perfect cross to Ruben Fahiya crashing toward the right post. However, his scissor kick attempt went over the crossbar.
  • In the 56^th minute, MACU found its equalizer when Lucas Catosso delivered a ball in stride to Higuchi, who dribbled around three defenders before pinpointing a perfect 23-yard strike inside the left post to make it a 1-1 game.
  • The Stars had a dangerous chance in the 73^rd minute when a dangerous cross found the knee of Fahiya in the middle of the box, but his half swing popped straight up in the air for Caffaro to leap up and snare it.
  • Mid-America Christian once again found itself down when an OCU throw-in came into the box, but a failed clearance from the Evangels off a deflection once again found the foot of Knight, who powered in a strong shot into the open left side of the net to make it a 2-1 OCU lead 8:03 remaining.
  • With just under three minutes to go, MACU once again found the equalizer. Crossing it from the left side to Federico Palacios on the right, who took a few dribbles up and launched an incredible 28-yard strike that pinged off the left post, drawing the match even at 2-2 with 2:58 left.
  • The Stars had one last chance in the final minute, but the MACU defense blocked Nate Ferguson's shot from the right side to secure the 2-2 result.

MATCH NOTES

• Even though Oklahoma City out-shot Mid-America Christian by a 17-7 margin, the Evangels defense forced multiple off-target attempts by the Stars as OCU only held a 5-4 edge in shots on-goal.
• The goal netted by Haruya Higuchi was his first as an Evangel as he shot three of MACU's seven attempts in the match while Federico Palacios put through his eighth career score.
• Dante Caffaro moved to 1-0-1 his third career start in-goal, as he allowed two goals and tallied three saves for the match.
• With the result, Mid-America Christian was able to avenge a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Oklahoma City in the SAC Championship game at the Dill Soccer Field on Nov. 12, 2024. The Evangels have continued to have some success at Brian Harvey Field in the last decade. MACU has not lost a match at OCU's home venue since Oct. 13, 2015 with the Evangels going 3-0-3 in the last six matches played at the north side pitch.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will be back on the road on Tuesday night as the Evangels prepare to make the trek to Plainview, Texas for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff against Wayland Baptist.