Phoenix, Ariz. – Freshman forward Chelsea Ruland (Tucson, Ariz./Pusch Ridge Christian Academy) scored a school single-match record 5 goals, including ACU’s last five goals and the match-winner late in the second half as Arizona Christian University outlasted Bethesda, 6-5.  The score was tied 2-2 after one half of action, and the teams scored six goals in a span of 14 minutes in the second half which left the match tied at 5-5 before Ruland’s heroics.

ACU improves its record to 3-6-0 this season, and Bethesda’s record fell to 1-4-0.  ACU also gains a measure of revenge for a 3-1 loss to Bethesda, Sept 16.

Bethesda Christian began the match with 10 eligible and able-bodied players and then lost one more, forward Noemi Hernandez, who received a red-card ejection just 7:58 into the match.  BCU also utilized two goalkeepers, neither of whom had previous collegiate experience.  Despite its circumstances, the Flames scored first in the match when forward Maria Esther Aceves took a through pass from Nayeli Benavides and beat ACU’s freshman goalkeeper Carmen Zamora (Phoenix, Ariz./La Joya Community H.S.) who started in goal for the first time this season.  The Flames also led 2-1, trailed 3-2 but came back to lead 4-3, lost the lead on two Ruland goals that gave ACU a 5-4 lead and then tied the match again at 5-5.

Arizona Christian hosts Carroll College from Helena, Montana for a 7 p.m. match at Rose Mofford Sports Complex, Saturday, October 15.

Even with Ruland’s scoring prowess, it was freshman midfielder Charlsey Rich (Phoenix, Ariz./Home Schooled) who scored ACU’s first goal of the match, tying the score at 1-1.  Rich stole the ball in full stride, broke away and shot the ball past Daisy Diaz in the BCU net for her first collegiate goal.

Ruland, who now leads ACU in scoring with a school single-season record of 9 goals and 3 assists for 21 points, also already is ACU’s career goals leader with nine.  A two-time State and Region Player of the Year who scored 109 goals during her high school career at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Ruland scored ACU’s final five goals, tying the score at 2-2 on an unassisted tally at 38:10 and putting ACU ahead, 3-2 at 55:53, with an assist from freshman midfielder Melinda Kleppe (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista H.S.), her second of the season.

After Aceves knotted the game at 3-3 with a goal at 61:59, BCU midfielder Rocio Serrano put the short-handed BCU team a 4-3 lead at 62:31 off an assist by midfielder Christiana Suarez.  Ruland’s two goals in a span of 55 seconds put ACU back into the lead, 5-4.  Freshman midfielder Ericka Haddock (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge H.S.) assisted on Ruland’s tying goal at 62:47 and Kleppe assisted on Ruland’s go-ahead goal at 63:42, her third of the season and second assist of the match.

Bethesda tied the match again at 5-5, when Daisy Diaz, who started in goal, collected a rebound of a shot by defender Leticia Solis and scored past Zamora at 68:49.  ACU’s defense tightened for the last 21 minutes of play, and Ruland scored what proved to be the match-winner on a breakaway at 79:53.  ACU made the goal stand up for the victory.

Zamora totaled four saves on nine Bethesda shots on goal, and Bethesda finished with five saves on 11 ACU shots on goal.  Bethesda Christian outshot Arizona Christian, 17-15.  Ruland totaled 9 shots, with 7 directly on goal.  Arizona Christian was whistled for 13 offsides violations as Bethesda worked its trap consistently partially to offset its two-player disadvantage.

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