Glendale, Ariz.- In a well-balanced contest, the Firestorm left their home field with a 2-2 tie against the visiting Vanguard University Lions. Forward Cornelis Miller registered both goals for ACU, including one in the 54th minute that temporarily gifted them a 2-1 lead. With four points racked up in GSAC play, the Firestorm need at least one point, or the equivalent of a tie, in their final match with The Master's to qualify for the GSAC Championship quarterfinals.

Score: Arizona Christian 2, Vanguard 2
Records: Arizona Christian 6-7-1 (1-4-1) | Vanguard 8-2-5 (4-1-1)
Location: ACU Football Field - Glendale, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Cornelis Miller - 2 goals, 3 shots
Janne Hintze - 1 assist
Jose Garcia - 4 shots, 2 on goal
Aiden Abbitt - 3 shots, 1 on goal
Santiago Ballesteros - 3 shots, 1 on goal
Carlos Gallardo - 3 saves

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

As one would expect in a critical conference match, the level of play was high and intensity won out. The Firestorm trailed 2-1 early in the shot category but a fortuitous sequence of events soon arrived. Jose Garcia lofted a through-ball that just nicked a set of on-coming Vanguard defenders, including goalkeeper Edwin Monterrosa, and Cornelis Miller, staying onside,  gave the ball one touch it needed for the goal.

With 27:28 left in the first period, ACU clung to a 1-0 advantage. Garcia quickly gave Monterrosa another scare, but the Lions responded with an offensive threat of their own. In a five-minute stretch, Vanguard fired off five shot attempts, including three by Robert Ronco and one on-target shot by Stewart Alvayero that Carlos Gallardo successfully saved for the Firestorm. Much like the nature of this game, ACU pushed back right away and pressured the Lions with their first corner kick and a wide header from Shiloh Perez.

Each team would trade one shot on goal before Vanguard's Ronco broke through in the 45th minute and scored the equalizing goal on an assist from Nicolai Dejbakhsh. Yellow cards came out in full force as soon as the second half started, the Lions earning four in the opening 10 minutes. Miller would strike again for the Firestorm, as he received a ball from Janne Hintze and delivered a tie-breaking goal in the 54th minute. 

ACU's Logan Johnson sent an on-target ball at Monterrosa a few possessions later, but was unsuccessful. As Vanguard proved all game, they were going to bring the heat on the offensive end, and their response came swiftly. Sidney Dina matched the score at 2-2 with a touch from Austin Tubbs in the 63rd minute.

Both offenses stalled after this point, ACU nonetheless closing out the final 27 minutes with an 8-4 shot advantage. Good looks came off the feet of Garcia and Santiago Ballesteros, but a third goal eluded the Firestorm as well as the Lions. The 2-2 final came as  the first tie of the season for ACU Men's Soccer.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH TED KRZYWIECKI

"Our guys put in a great effort into tonight's match," Coach Krzywiecki said. "It's clear that when we stay disciplined and compete as a unit we are able to put together 90 minutes of good soccer. It was unfortunate for us not to walk out with three points but we showed we have fight in the group. We know our fate is still in our hands and need to be ready to compete with everything we have on Saturday."

NEXT MATCH

The Firestorm step onto ACU Football Field for the last game of the 2023 regular season on Saturday, taking on The Master's and celebrating Senior Day. Kickoff is at 11:00 AM, where a win guarantees ACU a place in the GSAC Championship quarterfinal. Follow the action with live stats at https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary and watch the game at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/. 


Roll Storm!