November 9, 2023
Waxahachie, TX - It was a rainy Thursday afternoon when the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Lions soccer team clashed with the Dallas Christian College (DCC) Crusaders in the Quarterfinals of the NCCAA D1 Regional Men's Soccer Tournament. The stage was set on the lush field of the Lions Athletic Complex in Waxahachie, Texas, and it was a rematch that had soccer fans buzzing. The regular season had seen SAGU narrowly edging out DCC with a 1-0 victory, and both teams were poised for an epic showdown.
Lions Review
Right from the start, the SAGU Lions came out with a fiery determination to make their mark on the game. Strikers Isaiah Waddy and Guilherme Ravaneda set the tone for the Lions' offense, launching early shots at the DCC crossbars that had the Crusaders' goalkeeper and defensive backline on high alert.
The Lions' offensive strategy was clear: be relentless and dangerous. John Garcia, on an impeccably timed assist from Jafet Ramirez, found the back of the net to open the scoring. The roar from the crowd was deafening as the Lion's Athletic Complex erupted in celebration.
In the first half, the Lions displayed an intensity befitting the high-stakes nature of postseason soccer. The SAGU defense, anchored by David Calvete Beltran, Javaughn Hines, Wenceslau Coimbra, Raphael Racilan, and Alex Castro, maintained a solid and unwavering shape. This defensive cohesion kept the Crusaders' offensive attempts at bay, frustrating their every effort.
As the halftime whistle blew, the Lions held a 1-0 lead, but they were far from satisfied.
John Garcia, in a display of sheer brilliance, continued his goal-scoring spree by netting his second goal of the game, again assisted by Jafet Ramirez. Pedro Figueiredo Mattoso then added to the scoring tally with a well-executed goal, thanks to the setup by Wenceslau Coimbra.
But John Garcia was not done yet. In the 19th minute of the second half, he achieved his first collegiate hat trick with another fantastic goal, cementing his status as a true playoff performer.
In the end, the Lions emerged victorious with a convincing 5-1 win over the Crusaders, sending waves of joy through their supporters. David Calvete Beltran made four crucial saves to secure the victory.
Next Up
With this win, the SAGU Lions advance to the next round of the NCCAA D1 Men's Soccer Tournament, where they will face off against Central Christian College on Tuesday, November 14th.
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.
