CLAREMORE, Okla. — No. 21 Rogers St. (5-3-1, 1-2-0 GAC/MIAA) fell to rival Northeastern State (2-6-1, 1-2-1 GAC/MIAA) 2-1 Saturday on Gold Star Family Appreciation Night at Soldier Field.
The Hillcats finished with a 13-9 shot advantage and an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. The match also featured 43 combined fouls and six yellow cards.
RSU spent most of the first half chasing a 1-0 deficit after Avelino Rosa scored for the RiverHawks at 12:01 off an assist from Edson Marchan. Earlier, the Hillcats created two early chances, with
Sam Ryder missing left in the fourth minute and
Matthew Reed putting a shot on frame that Cameron McColloch saved in the seventh minute. RSU continued to press after the goal, getting saved shots from
Alex Fletcher and
Alex Laing, a Reed attempt, a corner kick and a
Brandon O'Rourke shot wide during a 10-minute stretch.
Tristan Miller kept the margin at one with a save on Joshua Adeyemi in the 33rd minute, and the Hillcats added another corner during a physical closing stretch before the RiverHawks took the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Louis Bassett (2) brought RSU level in the 53rd minute, capping an early second-half stretch that included saved shots by Reed and Fletcher and a corner kick. The middle of the half turned physical, with multiple fouls and yellow cards between the teams, while Reed added another shot on frame in the 60th minute. The Hillcats then absorbed RiverHawks chances, including a Miller save at 76:32, before answering with a corner;
Jamie Kennedy shot at 76:35, and another Reed shot was saved in the 82nd minute. The RiverHawks broke through on Eduardo Matos' goal in the 88th, as the half ended with the Cats falling 2-1.
Bassett scored on his only shot, putting it on goal and finishing with two points. Reed led RSU with five shots and four attempts on goal. Fletcher put both of his shots on frame. Goalkeeper Miller played all 90 minutes and recorded two saves.
RSU will host Harding next Thursday at 7 p.m. at Soldier Field.
