Santa Clarita, Calif. – The Master’s College (6-0-0) scored four goals in the first half and three more in the second half of its 7-0 non-conference collegiate men’s soccer victory over Arizona Christian University (0-4-0), Thursday, Sept. 15, in Santa Clarita, Calif.  Master’s ranks 15th in the latest NAIA national coaches’ poll and fourth in the National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) national ratings.

Arizona Christian meets Hope International University at Fullerton Junior College, Saturday, Sept. 17, at 3:30 p.m.  Master’s and Hope International will be conference opponents for the Firestorm beginning next season when ACU becomes the eighth member of the Golden State Athletics Conference, prompting ACU head soccer coach Jonathan Lenarz to comment, “Today’s match taught ACU a great deal about what it will mean to compete in the GSAC.  The Master’s is one of the top soccer teams in the conference and demonstrated that fact today.”

The host Mustangs outshot the Firestorm, 25-2, and put 16 shots directly on the ACU net where sophomore goalkeeper Jorge Arauz (Las Vegas, Nev./Durango H.S.) made nine saves, several at close range.  ACU’s first shot of the match, taken by senior forward Brett Bowman (Glendale, Ariz./Northwest Christian School) finally came at the 67-minute mark.  Master’s also was awarded 13 corner kicks, two of which resulted in first-half goals.  Master’s also scored off a free kick in the first half and on a well-placed throw-in play in the 78th minute.

Forward Jorge Serrano scored the Mustangs’ first goal at 8:33 on a largely individual effort, and also assisted on the next three goals in the first half.  Midfielder Doug Armstrong tallied off Serrano’s corner-kick assist at 17:34, and forward Zachary Egeler made it 3-0 at 33:42 on Serrano’s corner-kick cross which went directly to Fabrice Gautrat who fed the ball to Egeler at the opposite post for the easy goal.  Defender Jordan Edwards scored MC’s fourth goal at 39:32 off Serrano’s free kick, and MC led 4-0.

MC coach Jim Rickard pulled his starters in the second half, and three reserves scored the final three goals.  Ken Gardner tallied at 50:11 in the second half off a crossing pass from midfielder Taylor Shahi, and Shahi made the score 6-0 at 78:42 kicking in a throw-in from the right side of the MC goal.  Midfielder Darren Lightfoot completed the 7-0 shutout with an unassisted goal at 86:06.

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