Mid-America Christian University

OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Women's Soccer team were unable to hold onto its first half lead and endured its first loss of the 2026 campaign in a 2-1 contest against LSU Shreveport on Saturday afternoon at the Dill Soccer Field.  
   
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 1, LSU Shreveport 2
  • Mid-America Christian: 2-1-1
  • LSU Shreveport: 1-2

SCORING SUMMARY

• 1^st Half – 31:45 – MACU – Goal: Lena Kucken (1) – Assist: Stephanie Arrivillaga – MACU 1, LSUS 0
• 1^st Half – 34:28 – LSUS – Goal: Laura Kucharz (1) – Assist: Dervla Mannion – MACU – 1, LSUS 1
• 1^st Half – 43:27 – LSUS – Goal: Dervla Mannion (2) – Assist: Zuzanna Quinkenstein – MACU 1, LSUS 2

MATCH SUMMARY

• First Half
  • Within the first minute of the contest, Niamh Taylor was forced into a big save to deny the opener. 20 seconds later, on the other end, Lexi Swetz had a golden opportunity to put the Evangels in front that was also saved by the Pilots' goalkeeper.
  • In the 32^nd minute, Lena Kucken found space 35 yards away from the goal and let her effort fly. Kucken's shot flew over the keeper's head and into the top net for the Evangels' opener.
  • However, LSUS responded well with a shot from range of their own that snuck into the top right corner just three minutes later. The Pilots took the lead just before the halftime whistle of the corner kick with a smashing header into the corner in the 44^th minute.
• Second Half
  • Niamh Taylor started the second half like the first, with a clutch save in the opening minute to keep the Evangels' deficit at one.
  • The Pilots looked to tack on a third and had a golden opportunity from their center forward who stole it off Taylor and had the open goal to aim for, but her shot struck the left post. The rebound fell to a trailing LSUS player who put her shot on goal that was rejected by Parker Hefti on the goal line.
  • Lexi Swetz came inches away from the equalizer in the 86^th minute with her effort that rattled off the crossbar. However, the Evangels were unable to continue the late goal magic from a week ago and suffered their first defeat of the season.

MATCH NOTES

• For the first time this season, MACU trailed in the shot margin as LSUS fired off 31 shots and 14 on target. The Evangels mustered 14 total shots and six on goal.
• Lena Kucken scored her first goal in Evangel colors as her long-range effort was the first shot she's recorded. Stephanie Arrivillaga registered her second assist of the season.
• Lexi Swetz led the offense with six total shots and managed two of them on frame. Kucken also had a pair of shots with both on frame.
• Niamh Taylor finished with a new career-high 12 saves as she faced 31 total shots, and 14 on frame.     
• MACU still holds the all-time record against LSUS at 3-2. However, the Evangels' three game winning streak over the Pilots was snapped.

NEXT UP

• Mid-America Christian stays at home for game five of six consecutive home games to open the 2026 campaign as the Evangels face University of Southwest from New Mexico on Wednesday evening for a 5 P.M. kickoff at the Dill Soccer Field.