EDMOND—The women of Team Ephraim prevailed against Team Manasseh, 2-0, in the first-ever Asenath Cup May 11 on the Herbert W. Armstrong College soccer pitch. The hard-fought game capped a day of Mother’s Day celebrations for many hwac students and Philadelphia Church of God members.

The contest is named after the mother of biblical brothers Ephraim and Manasseh and serves as a feminine counterpart to the Joseph Cup. Team Ephraim consisted of students and members from Britain and its Commonwealth nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa. Two American wives of local Ephraimite members also laced up for the foreign side. Women from seven American states played for Manasseh.

With a stiff south wind at their backs, Team Ephraim needed only a few minutes to set the tone by taking advantage of shaky Manassite ball-handling in their defensive zone. Australian senior Gabrielle Haddad opened the scoring by smashing a hard line drive into the back of the net from 15 yards out. Tarah Hercus, who is married to New Zealand transplant Steve Hercus, made it 2-0 inside 10 minutes, lobbing a majestic shot from the right side of the pitch into the top left corner of the goal.

“The play was called ‘The Wind,’” Hercus joked during the second half. “It felt exhilarating. It was awesome.”

Ardent Ephraim supporter Brent Nagtegaal said of the team’s first-half strategy due to the favorable winds, “Anywhere in your half, have a crack on goal.”

After a dominant 30 minutes from the Ephraimite squad, many of their fans exuded confidence. “We’ve got it in the bag,” Imperial Academy teacher Roberta Wood said. “Ephraim, yeah!”

Manasseh came out strong in the second half, trying desperately to climb out of the two-goal hole. After a frenzied scrum and subsequent Ephraim hand ball infraction in the goal box, referee Joel Price awarded a penalty kick to North Carolina sophomore Victoria Terrell. After a running head start, she launched the ball over the crossbar.

The remainder of the half contained more of the same for the Manassites, who just couldn’t convert on ambitious shot attempts and dangerous crosses. The crowd groaned in agony several times as chance after chance came up empty.

Canadian sophomore Victoria Lancaster provided a painful sideshow to the entertaining game, as her face seemed to be a constant target for kickers on both sides. “It’s kind of cool actually,” she joked after a third cringe-worthy impact in the second half. “It’s a nice stinging feeling. I live life to the fullest.”

The closely contested game finished with two goals, but there could have been many more if not for some timely goalkeeping. At the final whistle, Ephraim exulted after surviving the furious Manasseh rally.

“I’m elated,” Haddad said. “It’s great. I waited three years for this moment.”