Mesa, Ariz. – After an hour of weather delay, ACU stormed back from an early two-goal deficit and scored four unanswered goals to defeat Benedictine Mesa 4–2.
MATCH INFO
Score: Benedictine Mesa 2 , Arizona Christian - 4
Records: Benedictine Mesa - 4-3-4, GSAC 1-2-3 | Arizona Christian - 4-2-2, GSAC 1-1-1
Location: ACU Football Field, Glendale, AZ
STAT TRACKER
Jose Garcia - 2 goals
Josh Flanagan - 1 goal, 2 assists
Raul Aranda - 1 goal, 1 assist
Marcos Mora - 2 assists
Nikarro Williams - 1 assist
Emiliano Vega - 5 saves, 2 goals allowed
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Redhawks jumped out fast, striking twice in the opening 11 minutes.
- Benedictine Mesa led 2-0.
- The Firestorm responded in the 27th minute when Raul Aranda put ACU on the board, finishing a setup from Nikarro Williams and Josh Flanagan. That goal swung momentum into halftime, and ACU carried it into the second half.
- Benedictine Mesa led 2-1 going into the half.
- Just four minutes after the break, Flanagan netted the equalizer himself, and the Firestorm were rolling.
- Jose Garcia struck again in the 52nd minute—this time assisted by Marcos Mora and Raul Aranda—to give ACU its first lead of the night.
- Less than a minute later, Garcia added his another goal, again set up by Flanagan and Mora, to cap a stunning three-goal surge in under three minutes.
- Benedictine Mesa finished with an 18–12 edge in shots and 13 corner kicks, but the Firestorm defense held firm in the second half as goalkeeper Emiliano Vega tallied five first-half saves to keep ACU within reach.
- ACU won the game, 4-2.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH TED KRZYWIECKI
"I am so proud of our guys for what they put into tonight's game. Benedictine is a good team and it was a battle the whole way. We faced a lot of adversity throughout the match but our guys were up to the challenge. Going down two goals early and fighting back and being a man down for 20+ minutes at the end. It's one to build on."
NEXT UP
On Thursday, the Firestorm will head to California to play against La Sierra at 7:30 pm.
