November 14, 2023
McPherson, KS - In a gripping NCCAA Regional Championship clash, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Lions faced the Central Christian College (CCC) Tigers in McPherson, Kansas. Despite an exhilarating comeback attempt, the Lions fell short, concluding the match with a final score of 4-3 after two intense overtime periods.
Lion Review
The first half showcased both teams' determination to prolong their postseason journey, featuring emotional and skillful soccer. Despite a passionate start, the Lions found themselves trailing by three goals.
Guided by halftime adjustments and wise counsel from the coaching staff, the Lions launched a spectacular comeback. John Garcia ignited the scoring spree with a splendid goal, assisted by Raphael Racilan and Pedro Figueiredo Mattoso. Ashton Leffring then capitalized on a Garcia assist, delivering a stunning goal to narrow the gap.
Forcing the game into overtime, John Garcia, with another pivotal goal assisted by Ashton Leffring, leveled the score at 3-3. The first overtime saw both teams locked in a stalemate, setting the stage for a nail-biting second overtime, but in the second, Central Christian secured the winning goal, ending the Lions' journey in this regional showdown.
Looking Ahead
As the Lions reflect on a commendable 2023 campaign marked by growth and development, they now set their sights on the upcoming off-season for further preparation and improvement.
As a leading Christian university, SAGU educates and prepares individuals who want to serve Christ and others. SAGU helps students discover and develop their God-given callings in a Spirit-empowered, learning community. We believe in affordable tuition, made possible in part through the financial support of donors who embrace the mission of SAGU and the importance of affordable, accredited programs to train Christians for leadership in ministry, business, education, and service. Most majors are available in-person in Waxahachie, TX, and online through a wide range of associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
