Claremore, Okla. - The Rogers State men's soccer team fell in its Sooner Athletic Conference opener as Wayland Baptist emerged with a 2-1 overtime victory at Soldier Field on Thursday evening.
WBU earned the game-winning goal in the 99th minute of play off a penalty kick by Cody McClary. The senior from Amarillo, Texas, slotted the ball in the lower left corner to win the game for the Pioneers with six seconds remaining in overtime.
The Hillcats took an early lead just five minutes into the match. There was a scramble for possession in the box as junior Gary Arauz passed the ball to Justin Friesen who was standing wide open at the top of the box. Friesen buried the ball far-post to give the Hillcats the lead.
The Pioneers took advantage of their first opportunity in the game. In the 31st minute Saman Hassan chipped the ball over the RSU defense and Jevaughn Vance volleyed the ball past Hillcat goalkeeper, Jeremy Swift, backpost.
RSU nearly took the lead with 12 minutes to play in the half. Senior Henrique Sousa blast the ball from 18 yards out but it was just wide.
The Hillcats would get one final chance just before the half. Mohammad Shaban darted down the line and slotted the ball across the face of the goal. Sousa came sliding in but put the ball over the crossbar.
The game would remain tied as the teams went into intermission. RSU took nine shots in the first half while holding the Pioneers to one shot.
The Hillcats came out strong in the second half with several scoring threats early in the closing period. RSU put four shots on frame in the second half, unable to convert any of them into a goal.
The loss marks the first home defeat of the season for the Hillcats. The Pioneers two goals were the first given up by the Hillcat defense at Soldier Field this season.
Rogers State (5-3, 0-1) will look to bounce back on Saturday as the host SAC opponent Lubbock Christian at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
