FORT WORTH - In a game that featured more cards than shots on goal, Mid-America Christian (10-3, 5-2 SAC) escaped Fort Worth with a 2-0 win over Texas Wesleyan (6-7-1, 2-4-1 SAC) at Riverside Middle School Friday night.
Seven different yellow cards were distributed – five on the Rams – as Texas Wesleyan scratched and clawed even with the Evangels through the first 55 minutes. That's when MACU found an advantage in the form of Rai Ramus.
Ramus dribbled through the teeth a tenacious Rams defense roughly 45 yards with rare perfection before firing a shot past goalkeeper
Bastian Blumenberg for a score. Blumenberg has two saves prior to that shot, which was only the Evangels third shot on goal. In fact, MACU managed only four shots on goal Friday, the least amount of shots put in the target zone against the Rams since Bacone was held to four October 29, 2016.
Texas Wesleyan moved the ball effectively most of the night, but it was the last pass into the box that found Evangels heads and feet in the way.
Zion Balogun got a head to one in the 81st minute, but other shots sailed too high or too wide.
It was senior night, and the seniors showed out. Ojouk Otieno provided great minutes in the midfield – one of his better performances of the season – while
Eder Falcon,
Kian Hosseinpour and
George Battersby provided quality minutes and efforts, although MACU ensured that Battersby and his opportunities were bottled up.
The Evangels drove a nail in the 73rd minute with a goal from Djibril Fofana. 33 fouls were called in the match, the most in any match since August 26, 2016 when 33 fouls were called in a game vs. Purdue Northwest – a 2-1 victory.
WHAT'S NEXT
Texas Wesleyan travels to John Brown Thursday October 25 for their final game of the regular season. The Rams are holding firmly to a tournament spot, up on No. 9 Central Christian by 1.5 games. Central Christian has two games left on their slate.
Friday could be a preview of the opening round matchup in the tournament, as MACU soared to second in the conference standings.
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