CLAREMORE, Okla. - Despite scoring a pair of goals early in the game, the Rogers State men's soccer team gave up three unanswered goals and fell to No. 13 Missouri Valley 3-2 on Saturday evening at Soldier Field in Claremore.
The Hillcats stunned the Vikings in the 10th minute of play as Steven Baker dished the ball to the corner of the box where Mohammed Shaban blasted it past the goalkeeper on the far post to give RSU a 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later Necas Collins doubled RSU's lead as he weaved through two MVC defenders and beat the keeper to give the Cats a 2-0 advantage.
The Vikings cut RSU's lead in half in the 24th minute as Nicholas Alexander ran onto a ball threaded through the defense by Declan Price and slotted it into the goal.
Just before halftime, Price scored the equalizer in the 41st minute and one minute later Miguel Jimenez gave the Vikings the lead and eventual game-winning goal.
The Vikings took the 3-2 advantage into the locker room at the break. RSU had several chances to earn the equalizer in the second stanza but were unable to convert the tying goal.
Nathan Inger suffered the loss in goal for the Hillcats, making five saves while allowing three goals. Josh Wells earned the win for MVC, allowing two goals and making five saves.
Rogers State (3-5) will return to action on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. as the Hillcats face Austin College at Soldier Field. The game will be streamed live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.
