Mid-America Christian University

WAXAHACHIE, Texas – The MACU Women's Soccer team clinched its spot in the Sooner Athletic Conference playoffs as Brae Baker scored in the 82^nd minute to give the Evangels the 1-0 victory over Nelson in Tuesday evening's road match.
   
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 1, Nelson 0
  • Mid-America Christian: 7-8-1 (4-3 SAC)
  • Nelson (Texas): 6-8-1 (2-4-1 SAC)

SCORING SUMMARY

• 2^nd Half – 81:20 – MACU – Goal: Brae Baker (11) – MACU 1, Nelson 0

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Nelson hit the gas first with an early attempt on goal in the opening two minutes of the contest. Niamh Taylor between the sticks made her first save in routine fashion. However, it was the Evangels who were on the attack next with multiple shots on frame led by Brae Baker with a pair. Mikayla Van Blaricom tried her luck from range in the 17^th minute, but to no avail.
  • Baker tested the Lions' goal once again in the 34^th minute as she took advantage of her opening, but the Nelson goalkeeper kept it out for her sixth save of the first half. Morgan Higgins tested her again one minute later, but again nothing came from it and both teams went to halftime goalless.
• Second Half
  • The Lions fired off four shots in the opening five minutes of the second half that forced Taylor to make a pair of saves to keep the clean sheet alive. The Evangels turned around with Lexi Swetz who forced a save, followed by Addi Botello striking the post just a minute later in the 52^nd minute.
  • Niamh Taylor continued to stand on her head with three more saves over the next 15-minute period. Swetz turned the tide around in the 72^nd minute with another shot on goal, but once again was denied by the Lions' goalkeeper.
  • The breakthrough came in the 82^nd minute from Brae Baker once again for her 11^th goal of the season. Baker pulled MACU in front as the Evangels held on for the final eight minute to win all three points in a 1-0 finish against Nelson.

MATCH NOTES

• MACU trailed in the shots department by a 12-14 margin. However, the Evangels fired more shots on frame with nine to the Lions seven.
• Brae Baker led offensive statistics with five total shots and four on goal. Baker scored her 11^th goal of the season and third game winner. Lexi Swetz also fired off three shots with two of them finding the target. Addi Botello's lone attempt of the game struck the post but was denied of the opener.
• Niamh Taylor had a phenomenal evening with her fifth clean sheet of the year and made seven saves in the process.
• Mid-America Christian clinched its playoff spot and improved to 4-3, 12 points, in Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Evangels now have a five-point cushion over sixth place Nelson.
• MACU took the all-time lead against Nelson to 21-2 and have beaten the Lions in 12 consecutive matches dating back to the 2017 season.  

NEXT UP

• Mid-America Christian travels back down to Texas to take on the Rams of Texas Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Fort Worth, Texas