OKLAHOMA CITY – Despite a hard-fought battle, Rogers State men's soccer (0-4-2) could not complete the upset of No. 15 CSU Pueblo (5-1) in a 2-1 decision on Saturday.
 
"I'm very proud of our men," said Head Coach Derek Larkin. "They played a very good game against one of the best teams in the country. We had chances to win, but things just didn't go our way. Again, I'm so proud of how we played the game!"
 
Noah Preston-Watkins found his way onto the scoresheet for the first time in his Hillcat career with an assist from Marcos Vasallo. Despite giving up two goals, Declan Viljoen made four saves.
 
The first half set the tone for what would be a very defense-heavy match. The ThunderWolves managed to outshoot RSU 5-2 in the period, including taking all three shots on goal. Both teams went into the half deadlocked in a scoreless stalemate.
 
In the second half, both sides began to find more offensive success with the shots evening out with CSU Pueblo out shooting the Hillcats 6-4 with three shots on goal compared with two. The ThunderWolves got on the board first in the 60th minute with the first goal of the match to go up 1-0. Two minutes later they struck again to push out to a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute. In the 81st minute, RSU fought back as Preston-Watkins fired in a shot off a pass from Vasallo to cut the lead to 2-1. Unfortunately, the Hillcats ran out of time to complete the comeback.
 
RSU will return home on Thursday, Sept. 26 to open up GAC/MIAA play as they host Ouachita Baptist inside the friendly confines of Soldier Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.