Waxahachie, TX

September 28, 2018 | Blake Cochran

Sooner Athletic Conference play has begun for the 2018-2019 soccer season. The Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) men and women’s team started SAC play off as Central Christian College came to Waxahachie. CCC’s teams before the night started had the men slated at 7-1 on the season beating teams handily by scoring an average of 5.75 goals per game. The women have been impressive, as well, with an overall record of 5-3 with two of those losses coming from nationally mentioned teams. The women started at 1 pm with the men following at 3 pm.

The women held their own the first half when the score was tied at 1-1 through the 45-minute mark. Messly scored the lone goal for the Lady Lions at the twenty-minute mark for her eighth goal of the season to tie the game up. After halftime, the Tigers went on a tear and scored four goals in less than twenty minutes of play. Freshman, Alexa Riddle had back to back goals during that span to go along with two assist for the game. With the score 5-1 and not much time left on the clock. the Lady Lions would lose this open battle against CCC. Melissa Navarro was able to gain a goal back with a few minutes left, final score 5-2 Tigers. Sarah Palmer finished the day with eight saves in the 90 minutes of play, seven of those coming in the first half. Melissa Navarro and Rachel Freed stayed active with five shots each and three on goal. Forward, Messly Navarro cracks the top 25 in the nation for total assists with six and total points on the year with 22. The Lady Lions are now 5-4-1 on the season and look to bounce back Saturday for another SAC match-up.

Shortly after that game finished up the men began and started off no better way than two back to back goals by Mazvita Chidarara. This would be his second game in a row with two goals and playing just as good as anyone at just the right time with conference starting. Freshman, goalkeeper, Jose Ladoriel was impressive with four saves in the first half and not allowing a goal, score 2-0 at halftime all Lions. SAGU knew one more goal would be hard to come back from and they did just that when Bryan Callejas found Heriberto Diaz open in the 55th minute of the game for a goal. Diaz is ranked in the top 10 nationally for total goals with ten and total points with 24. The final score ended up being 4-1 and a great win against a dominant SAC opponent.

Both teams will be back in action this Saturday 9/29 as Southwestern Christian University will come to SAGU for the second SAC game of the year. The women are 6-2-1 and the men have done nothing but dominated this season with a 9-1 record putting them in the top 25 in the nation. The first game will be at 12 pm for the women then the men’s game will shortly follow after that.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu