The Oklahoma Christian men’s soccer team fell 3-2 in double overtime against St. Thomas University (Texas) in Friday’s season opener.
Late in the half, a foul in the box allowed a penalty kick opportunity for the Celts. St. Thomas’ Efrain Orozco utilized the opportunity to put the Celts up 1-0. Despite several attempts to respond, the Eagles were unable to find the net before the end of the first period.
OC hit the field ready to make up difference in the second period. Early in the half, Neil Hilton made use of a Trey Boykin assist and blasted the ball past the keeper to tie the game at 1-1.
Moments later, St. Thomas committed a foul in the box to give the Eagles a chance to take the lead. Hilton took the free kick for the Eagles and had no problem sending the ball into the back of the net taking OC to a 2-1 advantage.
The Eagles held their ground the majority of the second half, despite the array of shots from the St. Thomas squad. With just minutes left to play, St. Thomas’ Shane Rojas sent one into the net to tie the score at 2-2 and send the game into overtime.
The first overtime period produced only one shot from the Celts as both teams struggled to score during the period. Minutes into the second overtime period, St. Thomas’ Jad El-Masri fired an outside shot into the goal to end the game leaving the Celts the victors with a 3-2 decision.
The Eagles begin the season with a 0-1 record and will play again at home Saturday in a women and men’s double header. The women kick off at 5 p.m. with the men to follow at 7 p.m.