Box Score
TULSA, Okla. - The Oral Roberts University
men's soccer team started the Summit League schedule with a victory
early Sunday morning as they topped Fort Wayne in overtime,
2-1.
ORU (3-4-1) improved its unbeaten streak to four matches and
earned its first conference opening win since 2009. IPFW is still
in search of its first win of the season as the Mastodons fell to
0-8-1 on the season.
After the match was postponed on Saturday due to field
conditions at the Case Soccer Complex, Sunday's match kicked off at
8 a.m. Both squads struggled to get going throughout the match,
playing the first 65 minutes in foggy conditions.
However, a defensive breakdown by the Golden Eagles broke a
scoreless tie in the 82nd minute as Jose Rodriquez gave
the Mastodons a 1-0 lead. Rodriquez collected a free ball outside
the penalty area, dribbled through traffic in the box and placed
the ball in the bottom left corner of the net.
With five seconds remaining in the match, Gerardo
Salas drew a foul in the box near the end-line. Edgardo
Mira was called upon to take the penalty kick. Mastodon keeper
Raphael Kotzock knocked down the PK, but Mira followed for the
game-tying goal.
It didn't take long for ORU to close out the match in the extra
period. In the 91st minute, Marco
Hernandez took a point blank shot that was deflected at the
net, but Matt Rogers was near the right post to convert the
game-winner.
Both goalkeepers earned seven saves in the match, with ORU
keeper Ben
LaCourse earning his third victory of the season. Kotzock's
record dropped to 0-6-1.
Up next, ORU heads to South Texas for its second match of the
season against Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The Huskies
stunned the Golden Eagles at the Case Soccer Complex with a 2-1
victory in double-overtime.