OKC Standard

The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team remained unbeaten in Sooner Athletic Conference play at Texas Wesleyan as the Evangels pushed across a pair of first half goals before hanging on for a 2-1 victory at Martin Field on Tuesday night.

 

SCORING SUMMARY

• 1st Half – MACU – 20:50 – Goal: Kealy Juarez (2), Assist: Annika Gerdau – MACU 1, TWU 0
• 1st Half – MACU – 40:24 – Goal: Annika Gerdau (2), Assist: Daniela Paez – MACU 2, TWU 0
• 2nd Half – TWU – 83:21 – Goal: Kiki Molinar (2) – MACU 2, TWU 1

MATCH SUMMARY

• Mid-America Christian was able to force a few early on-goal opportunities from Jasie Eischen and Annika Gerdau while TWU's top striker Tameir Grosvenor had the best opportunity on-goal for the Lady Rams, but Makayla Farquharson made a solid snag on the line drive shot while TWU's Reese Blanton made a pair of stops to keep the match scoreless.
• In the 21st minute, the Evangels were finally able to break through the Lady Rams defense. Following a MACU follow and an ensuing Texas Wesleyan free kick, the Evangels were able to quickly counter as the Annika Gerdau delivered a stellar through ball from the midfield for the run of Kealy Juarez down the left side. After getting by her defender and having a one-on-one with the keeper, Juarez was able to juke the goalie to the left before slipping a shot into the right side of the net to bring the score to 1-nil.
• Opportunities were limited for both teams over the next 20 minutes, but the Evangels were able to get the all-important game-winner in the 41st minute. Off a free kick, Daniela Paez was able to run down a deflected ball on the left side before delivering a pass to Gerdau on the edge of the box. Gerdau was able to turn and place a 16-yard curling roller from the left side to just inside the right post to swell the MACU lead to 2-0 going into half.
• Texas Wesleyan opened the second half with a great chance in the 47th minute off the foot of Grosvenor on the right side, but Farquharson was able to make a strong diving save toward left of goal to push the ball away before being cleared out by the MACU defense.
• Mid-America Christian was able to put together a slew of shots over the next 20 minutes, but MACU's first on-goal opportunity in the second half came in the 67th minute. Off a free kick on the left side, the ball was centered to Jasmine Morales, who rifled a 25-yarder toward the top-right corner, but Blanton made a strong leaping save to force the ball out the back line.
• Texas Wesleyan trimmed the Evangels' advantage in half in the 84th minute when a failed clearance by the MACU defense allowed the ball to be popped in the air and took a bounce toward Kiki Molinar crashing in on the right side as she headed in a four-yarder over the MACU defenders and into the back of the net to make it 2-1.
• Mid-America Christian would not allow the Lady Rams to take another shot over the final six minutes as the Evangels held on for the win.

MATCH NOTES

• Mid-America Christian outshot Texas Wesleyan 20-12 with a 9-4 edge in shots on-goal.
• Sophomore forward Annika Gerdau led the MACU offensive attack with her first career three-point game as a member of the Evangels, netting her first game-winner of the season to go with an assist, pushing her team-leading season point total to seven on the year. The Germany native took a team-high three shots with two landing on-goal.
• Freshman forward Kealy Juarez scored her second goal in the last three games after taking three shots with the lone on-target goal finding the back of the net.
• Makayla Farquharson improved to 4-5-1 in-goal this season after conceding just one goal while making a trio of saves for a .750 save percentage.
• Despite entering Sooner Athletic Conference play with just a 1-7 record, Mid-America Christian has been reinvigorated in league play, going 3-0-1 through the first two weeks while outscoring the opposition 9-2 in that time frame.
• With the loss, Texas Wesleyan fell to 3-8 overall and just 1-3 against SAC competition.
• Mid-America Christian notched its fourth straight win against the Lady Rams and improved to 7-5 in the all-time series.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will face one of its toughest conference contests of the season on Friday, Oct. 14 as the Evangels will wrap-up its three-match road stand at SAC leader No. 25 Science & Arts in Chickasha, Okla. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. at McLaughlin Field.

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