OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Niall Smith scored the game-winning golden goal to propel the Rogers State men's soccer team to a 2-1 win at Oklahoma Christian,  clinching a spot in the Heartland Conference Tournament, on Thursday at Eagle Soccer Field.
 
Smith, a junior from Sheffield, England, collected the ball at the top of the box and sent it by the goalkeeper in the third minute of overtime to give the Hillcats the 2-1 overtime win. It was the third straight 2-1 victory for the Hillcats with all three game-winning goals coming in the final minutes.  
 
The win clinches a spot in the Heartland Conference Tournament in the first season the Hillcats are eligible for NCAA Division II postseason.
 
After a scoreless first period, sophomore Kevin Kwarteng put the Hillcats in front, 1-0 with a shot from 10 yards to the left side of the goal in the 53rd minute. Smith got the assist on the goal, his team-leading sixth of the season.
 
The host Eagles broke through in the 80th minute with a goal from Taylor Vanderford on a shot from six yards to tie the score at 1-1.
 
Although it was 0-0 after the first 45 minutes, RSU held a sizeable advantage in shots at 11-5. The navy and red finished with an edge of 18-12 in shots, including 7-6 in shots on goal.
 
Smith and Jake Simpson totaled a game-high five shots. Smith put four of his five shots on goal. Kwarteng added four shots, including the second-half goal.
 
Cody Gammill finished with five saves and allowed the one OC goal in 93 minutes in goal.
 
The Hillcats end the regular season at Newman on Saturday (Oct. 29) at 2:30 p.m. in Wichita, Kansas. Live stats and video will be available for the contest.