WICHITA, Kan. – Terry Makedika scored a 57th-minute goal to help the No. 1 ranked Arizona Western Matadors Men's Soccer team (17-0-3) win its opening game at the 2023 NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Championships 1-0 over Casper (9-8-5) on Sunday morning.

After a scoreless first half, the Matadors grabbed the lone goal of the game 12 minutes into the second half when Makedika took a pass from Asaki Nakamura just inside the box and beat the keeper with a shot that ricocheted off the back post into the net to give the Matadors a 1-0 lead.

Casper threatened in the second half but Matadors' goalkeeper Esteban Gonzalez made four saves to keep the Thunderbirds off the scoreboard, recording a clean sheet.

Arizona Western had a chance at a second goal late but Stephen Saladin was denied by the Casper keeper inside the six-yard box to keep the score line 1-0.

The Matadors are back in action in pool play on Tuesday, November 14, taking on LSU-Eunice at 9:00 am MST at Stryker Complex in Wichita.