Surprise, Ariz.- Despite faltering late, the Firestorm responded to adversity and claimed a 2-1 win in a contentious battle with OUAZ. Santiago Ballesteros served up the deciding blow in the 90th minute after the Spirit had tied the game only eight minutes earlier. ACU stopped their three-game slide and has their eyes set on four remaining GSAC games.

Score: Arizona Christian 2, OUAZ 1
Records: Arizona Christian 6-5-0 (1-2-0) | OUAZ 5-5-2 (0-3-0)
Location: Spirit Field - Surprise, AZ

STAT TRACKER

Kaden Grub - 1 goal, 2 shots 
Santiago Ballesteros - 1 goal, 2 shots
Aiden Abbitt - 1 assist, 1 shot
Janne Hintze - 1 assist
Carlos Gallardo - 4 saves

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

The Spirit's Peyton Montiel-Ville was responsible for the match's first shot on goal in the 4th minute, but Carlos Gallardo denied it entry. On the very next possession, the Firestorm's Janne Hintze challenged the Spirit's defensive line and set up Kaden Grub for the match's first score and his first goal of 2023. Before the 5-minute mark, ACU had snatched up a 1-0 lead.

In the remaining 40 minutes of the first half, the Firestorm did not allow another shot on goal and only entertained three shot attempts. ACU's nearest crack at a second goal in the opening half came from Jake Underwood, whose header hit off the crossbar in the 36th minute. Coach Ted Krzywiecki's squad took a 1-0 advantage into the break.

OUAZ accounted for the first four shots of the second period, but did not sniff a real goal chance. Shiloh Perez fired off ACU's first shot of the half inside to Spirit goalkeeper Christian Ortiz, which he would grab for his only save of the contest. Just over a minute later, a late tackle from BJ Ruzmir sent tempers flaring on both sides and two players on each team were awarded red cards. The final 26 minutes were played with nine players on each team, down two from the normal 11. 

The Spirit controlled the next few possessions, as Montiel-Ville and Victor Chakwakwama each tested Gallardo. These threats were defused by Gallardo, but OUAZ quickly got the ball again and this time around Montiel-Ville and Ingram Kusaloka traded passes in a line to Miguel Medina who paid off the Spirit's first goal. In the lead from the start, the Firestorm found themselves tied with only 8 minutes left.

Gallardo made a critical save not even two minutes later and three OUAZ fouls in a short span gave ACU an opening. Four seconds after the 1-minute warning, Aiden Abbitt got the ball to the feet of Santiago Ballesteros who determinedly bruised it into the back of the net. Surviving one last attempt from Medina, the Firestorm came away with a 2-1 win and their first conference victory of 2023.

THOUGHTS FROM COACH TED KRZYWIECKI 

"I'm really proud of our guys today for responding to some adversity in a tough game on the road," Coach Krzywiecki said. "It is always a tight and intense game against OUAZ. We need to keep trusting in our process and our belief in how we want to play. Our guys have been playing well and it was good to see them rewarded with the result today."

NEXT MATCH

The Firestorm prepare for a home matchup against the hot-handed Hope International next Thursday. Yet another action-filled game begins at 8:00 PM. Come out to ACU Football Field and don't forget it will also be AZ Club Soccer Night. Follow along with live stats at https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary and watch the game at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/.   


Roll Storm!