TYLER, Texas — No. 5 Rogers State Men's Soccer (3-0-1) played UT Tyler (1-0-1) to a 2-2 tie on Saturday at the Citizens First Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex.
Brandon O'Rourke (1) scored the equalizer at 89:33 off
Gian Filizzola's assist after RSU trailed 2-1.
RSU generated the first two recorded shots of the half, with
Louis Bassett trying an effort in the sixth minute and
Ashton Medina missing just right in the seventh minute. The Patriots struck first after Hugo Dunger scored off Jaime Casado's assist in the 27th minute for a 1-0 lead. Freshman
Tristan Miller (3-0-1) kept RSU within one less than a minute later with a save on Owen Dakin's strike, and the score remained 1-0 heading into the break.
The Hillcats scored twice in the final three minutes of the second half, with Bassett finishing
Sam Ryder's assist in the 88th minute and O'Rourke scoring from Filizzola's assist in the 90th minute to bring the match to 2-2. Earlier, RSU generated chances through
Mario Lopez Ayuso's shot in the 58th minute, corner kicks at 58:29 and 61:40, and a late sequence that included
Miguel Madrigal's shot and
Devon Garza's saved attempt in the 81st minute. The Patriots added a goal from Noe Coutino at 85:24 to make it 2-0, but RSU answered with Bassett's goal just over two minutes later. The closing stretch included multiple cards after the equalizer, and the half ended with the cumulative score tied 2-2.
Bassett scored and led RSU with two shots, putting one on goal. O'Rourke scored on his only shot and was credited with the equalizer. Ryder recorded an assist for one point. Filizzola added an assist off the bench.
Defensively, Miller (3-0-1) finished with a pair of saves. Senior
Alex Laing finished with a team-high 88 minutes on the pitch.
RSU will return home to Soldier on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to take on Oklahoma Christian.
