OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Men's Soccer team captured its first Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Championship after Ruben Fahiya delivered in the late going once again.
 
Oklahoma City 1, Mid-America Christian 0
 
Goals
'78 – Ruben Fahiya; Assisted by Thomas Brulay
 
How it Happened
Both teams started the 2024 SAC Championship game in a conservative matter as Oklahoma City's first shot came seven minutes into the contest by Bernardo Duarte which was saved by the Evangel keeper. Hannan Ashraf attempted the other Stars first half shot coming in the 16^th minute of play. Mid-America Christian had a major opportunity with 18:30 left in the half before an offside penalty took the MACU chance at goal off the board.

Oklahoma City continued to put the pressure on Mid-America Christian as Asraf took his second shot of the half from inside the box but couldn't get the ball past Claudio Fuentealba, the MACU goalie. The fifth shot of the half from OCU came from senior Thomas Brulay who had a great look at one but was wide of the mark.

The stout Oklahoma City defense held Mid-America Christian to just two shot through the first with both attempts being blocked by Stars defenders. At the conclusion of the half OCU came away with a 5-2 shot advantage while the two teams combined for 17 fouls.
 
Two early yellow cards for each school gave each side a free kick opportunity as Jordan Da Costa took the third shot on-goal for OCU two minutes into the second half but once again could not get it by Fuentealba.

MACU came out of the break with much more intensity and pressure leading to a big chance from the MACU centerback Sebastian Rebolledo with a header off the crossbar that almost put the Evangels on top nine and a half minutes in.

Nearing the halfway mark the game began to open up with both teams finding counters with the momentum shifting in each direction. MACU took its first shot on-goal of the match in the 62^nd minute as Alexis Bertrand picked up his first save of the contest.

Shots being hard to come by, OCU was the first to take the upper hand with the hero of the semifinal round Ruben Fahiya nailing the games first goal off the assist by Thomas Brulay.

Trying to hold on in the final minutes Oklahoma City allowed just one more shot that sailed high above the goal by Tony Ngombi serving as the final chance MACU would have before the Stars wrapped up the contest with a clean sheet 1-nill victory.
 
Game Notes

• Oklahoma City earns its first Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.
• Ruben Fahiya became the hero once again kicking in the game-winner for his seventh goal of the season.
• Alexis Bertrand and the Stars defense posted the eighth clean sheet of the season holding MACU scoreless for the second time this season after the Evangels had a 0-0 draw with Southwestern Christian back on Oct. 22.
• The win for OCU kept the Evangels from winning its fifth consecutive SAC title.

Up Next
Oklahoma City will take up play the NAIA Opening Round beginning on Nov. 21. The NAIA Men's Soccer Selection Show will be Nov. 16 at 2:00 PM.

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