OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 6, 2018) – Oklahoma Christian's recent surge of soccer success continued for about a half-hour into its match Saturday afternoon with No. 4-ranked Midwestern State (Texas), but it went downhill for the Eagles after that.

After OC took an early lead, Midwestern State tied the game with a disputed goal and pulled away with three goals in an 11-minute span of the second half to down the Eagles 4-1 on a soggy, chilly afternoon at the Eagle Soccer Field.

Despite the loss, OC (6-5-1, 4-3-1 Heartland Conference) remained squarely in the hunt for a spot in the six-team league postseason tournament. With 13 standings points, the Eagles are only third in the North Division (behind Midwestern State and Rogers State) but stand fifth overall.

Saturday's game had set up as one of the more intriguing hosted by the Eagles in recent memory – a spunky OC squad that has defied naysayers, overcome numerous injuries to key players and surged into contention in the Heartland with three straight wins (all on the road) facing perhaps the nation's top NCAA Division II program, one with a 33-game unbeaten streak entering the contest.

OC took a quick lead against Midwestern State (10-0-1, 7-0-1), taking advantage of a defensive miscue by the Mustangs in the seventh minute. Vanja Hodovic sent in a cross from the right side and D'Waylan McIntosh tapped it back to Landon Pope, who sent a low, strong shot from just inside the penalty box past goalkeeper Taylor Lampe. It was Pope's first collegiate goal.

That marked only the second time the Mustangs had trailed all season and the game quickly became chippy. Eventually, eight yellow cards were issued – four against each team.

Midwestern State tied the game in the 40th minute. Carlos Flores sent in a long pass over the OC defense to Ross Fitzpatrick, who scored from inside the 6-yard box. OC coaches protested that Fitzpatrick was offside, but after game officials conferred, they ruled the goal would stand.

The Mustangs' constant pressure – they outshot OC 27-7 – finally wore the Eagles' defense down and a foul in the penalty box gave Midwestern State a penalty kick, which Rory O'Keeffe converted in the 64th minute. The Mustangs put the game away with two goals just 46 seconds apart, a header by Connor Cesar in the 74th minute and a point-blank shot by Juan Ramirez in the 75th minute.

Both Lampe and OC goalkeeper Anthony Trabichet made three saves.

OC will host its final two home games of the season next week, against West Division-leading West Texas A&M on Thursday night and Eastern New Mexico on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles will close the regular season with four straight road games.