October 26, 2024

Waxahachie, TX – On a day filled with emotions and celebrations, the Nelson University Lady Lions came up just short in a dramatic 3-2 loss to Mid-America Christian University (MACU) in a Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) contest. The match, held at the Lions Athletic Complex, also served as a Senior Day tribute to honor six remarkable Lady Lions: Alejandra Ruiz, Anna Bewley, Valeria Olivas Maldonado, Stephanie Hernandez, Hope Bernal, and Cassandra Cervantes, who were recognized for their contributions to the program before kickoff.

The match had all the makings of a classic as both teams delivered standout performances. MACU struck first in the 19th minute with Brae Baker's goal, assisted by her sister Asley Baker, who orchestrated a beautiful play to give the visitors an early lead. The Lady Lions responded with resilience. In the 38th minute, senior forward Stephanie Hernandez found the back of the net, capitalizing on a perfect assist from Daisy Altamirano to equalize, 1-1, and give the home crowd something to cheer about.

Coming out of halftime, MACU wasted no time reclaiming the lead when Asley Baker returned the favor from her sister by scoring a goal of her own, again assisted by Brae Baker in the 47th minute. The Lady Lions continued to battle, and in the 73rd minute, Stephanie Arreola stepped up off the bench to score another equalizer for Nelson, sending the fans into a frenzy.

With the game seemingly heading towards a draw, Gladis Avalos of MACU delivered a heartbreaker in the 88th minute, scoring the game-winning goal off an assist from Caitlin Hirst to seal the 3-2 victory for MACU.

Despite the loss, the Lady Lions showed tremendous determination throughout the match, outshooting MACU with 10 shots and putting six on goal. Stephanie Hernandez and Stephanie Arreola led the charge for Nelson University, each scoring key goals to keep their team in the game. Goalkeeper Samantha Longoria also made a valiant effort with six saves, keeping Nelson in contention until the final minutes. 

The defense was anchored by Valeria Olivas, Alejandra Ruiz, and Catherine Jesionek, who all logged a full 90 minutes in their Senior Day performance. While the result wasn't what they hoped for, the seniors showcased their leadership and tenacity, making their senior day home match one to remember.

Next Up?
The Lady Lions look to bounce back quickly as they face Central Christian College (Kan.) in another critical SAC matchup on October 29 at the Lions Athletic Complex. Kickoff is set for 5:00 PM, and the team will be eager to finish the regular season strong.

Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.