Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 15, 2016) – What otherwise mostly was an evenly played match on Thursday night at the Eagle Soccer Field turned on an unfortunate play for Oklahoma Christian.

Ryan Sinclair's strong shot from 15 yards deflected off an OC defender and into the goal in the 82nd minute, giving Eastern New Mexico a 1-0 win in the Heartland Conference opener for both schools.

The wild match included eight yellow cards – five on the Greyhounds (including two on the Eastern New Mexico bench) and three on OC – and numerous solid scoring chances for both teams, with Eastern New Mexcio (2-1-1, 1-0 Heartland) posting an 18-14 edge in shots.

But both defenses held firm, with the Eagles catching a break when a free kick from 18 yards by Eastern New Mexico's Ryan McManus – awarded when OC goalkeeper Evan Helker touched the ball with his hands just outside the penalty box – clanged off the post in the 58th minute. Helker later made a diving save on a shot by Sinclair in the 73rd minute and the senior finished with four saves.

OC (2-3, 0-1) also was unlucky on a couple of free kicks, with Cody Cook shooting high in the 24th minute from about 28 yards out and Taylor Vanderford doing the same from about 25 yards out in the 59th minute.

Eastern New Mexico goalkeeper James Gutierrez made three saves.

OC will host another new Heartland affiliate member, West Texas A&M, on Saturday at 1 p.m.