CLAREMORE, Okla. — No. 13 Rogers State men's soccer (14-3-5) punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over Lincoln (11-2-7) on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Sophomore
Ashton Medina came up clutch once with his second-straight tournament game-winner, assisted by Lawson Fort and
Artur Carvalho late in the second half.
The Hillcats collected 13 shots, seven of which were on target, while the Blue Tigers managed 20 shots but failed to find the back of the net.
The first half commenced with the Hillcats showing early offensive activity.
Brandon O'Rourke's initial shot in the opening minute was saved, and
Oliver Hemlin followed with another attempt shortly after. Despite multiple efforts, including shots by
Sam Ryder and
Louis Bassett, Lincoln's goalkeeper, Vincent Osei, remained steadfast in goal.
Defensively,
Jaxon Kendall made a crucial save against a shot by Christopher Hull to keep the game level. Kendall extended his school-record shutout total to 12 games with yet another clean sheet that consisted of four saves
As the first half progressed, the Cats' continued to apply pressure, amassing several corner kicks and shots, yet none found the back of the net. The half concluded with the score tied at 0-0, with both teams evenly matched in their pursuits.
The second half saw a pivotal moment for RSU when Medina scored his fourth goal of the season in the 82nd minute, assisted by Ford and Carvalho, breaking a scoreless tie. Earlier in the half, the Hillcats'
Alex Fletcher had a promising attempt saved, setting the tone for an aggressive offensive push. Kendall played a critical role defensively, making key saves to maintain the lead.
Later in the second, RSU managed to withstand the Blue Tigers' offensive pressure, with Kendall denying multiple shots on goal. Despite a late attempt by Lincoln to equalize, RSU's defense held firm, securing a 1-0 victory as the final whistle blew.
The second-seeded Hillcats will continue their NCAA Tournament run against a familiar foe, as they will play the top-seeded No. 4 Fort Hays State Tigers (19-0-3) in the quarterfinals next Saturday. Kick off from the FHSU Soccer Stadium is slated for 1:00 p.m.
Hays is leads the season series, 3-0, but the Hillcats have cut the scoring margin each contest.
