ACU Scores Late Against Park, Grabs Last GSAC Playoff Spot
Gibert, Ariz.- In a match that was scoreless until 26 minutes remained, Arizona Christian poured in four goals including two in the last 2:30 minutes to beat Park-Gilbert. With the win, paired with OUAZ and Benedictine Mesa tying, the Firestorm punched their ticket into the GSAC postseason. After starting their GSAC schedule 0-4-1, Arizona Christian produced a 5-1-3 record down the stretch.
MATCH INFO
Score: Arizona Christian – 4, Park-Gilbert – 0
Records: Arizona Christian – 7-7-4, 5-5-4 GSAC | Park-Gilbert – 7-7-4, 5-5-4 GSAC
Location: Desert Sky Park, Gilbert, AZ
STAT TRACKER
Jake Dickinson – goal, assist
Aiden Abbitt – 2 assists
Josh Flanagan – goal
Marlon Arce – goal
Cristhian Flores – goal
Edwin Meza – assist
Dustin Rogers – 4 saves, shutout
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The only shot of the first half for ACU came in the 20th minute off the foot of Marcos Mora requiring a save
- Park only took five shot requiring a save from Rogers- making his first collegiate start
- To begin the second half, the Buccaneers outshot ACU 4-3
- However, in the 64th minute, Dickinson locked in the match winner and his second goal on a feed from Abbitt
- Eleven and a half minutes later, Flangan notched his second goal of 2024 (assist by Meza)
- Park kept coming and forced Rogers to make three saves in 2:30 stretch
- Dickinson was in a giving mood as he assisted the second goal of the season for Flores
- With just 12 seconds remaining in the match, Arce capped the scoring (6th goal, assist by Abbitt)
- For Rogers, he earned his first career shutout
- Abbitt took over the all-time games played for ACU Men’s Soccer with appearance number 75
THOUGHTS FROM COACH TED KRZYWIEKCI
“Wow – our guys played a great game tonight and I am so proud of how they bounced back in the second half of the season. Our guys have bought in and they are really playing like a team. I am thankful we got the help we needed and I am just excited to have another week for us to be together and continue to improve.”
NEXT UP
The Firestorm will head to California for a semifinal GSAC match against Hope International on Thursday. The match will be played at the OC Great Park at 7:00 pm (Pacific)/8:00 pm (Arizona).
