OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 13, 2018) – Saving one penalty kick in a game is unusual. Saving two is just ridiculous, and that's as good a word as any to describe the level at which Oklahoma Christian goalkeeper Anthony Trabichet played Thursday night against Newman (Kan.).

In the best game of his young collegiate career, the freshman from France made 11 saves – including the two on PKs – to lead the Eagles to a 2-0 win over Newman at the Eagle Soccer Field in the Heartland Conference opener for both teams.

Matheus Mantovani converted his penalty-kick opportunity in the 36th minute and freshman D'Waylan McIntosh bent it like Beckham in the 56th minute to back Trabichet's outstanding defensive performance with enough offense for the Eagles.

It's early, of course, but OC (3-2, 1-0 Heartland Conference) is tied atop the Heartland North Division standings with NCAA Division II No. 1-ranked Midwestern State (Texas).

"It's good to get off to a good start this way," OC coach David Scott said. "We stressed the importance of the game and how important it was for us to get off to a good start in our pod and put us on the right foot as we move into conference play."

Newman (3-2, 0-1) outshot the Eagles 22-9, but it was OC that had more quality scoring chances. Even so, it took a break for OC to get on the board. Newman's Magnus Kretschmann was called for a handball in the penalty box and Mantovani beat the Jets' goalkeeper, Chase Bowman, to put OC ahead. It was Mantovani's team-leading third goal of the season.

In the 42nd minute, it was an OC player called for a handball in the penalty box, and Carlos Rubio Garcia's PK attempt went right to Trabichet, who quickly controlled the ball.

Matthew Tedford intercepted a pass and sent it to Diego Vazquez, who touched it back to McIntosh, and the freshman from Broken Arrow took a curling shot from just inside the penalty box. Bowman had little opportunity to make any attempt at a save and the Eagles led 2-0.

"That was a great first-time finish by a freshman," Scott said. "That showed a lot of composure by him, especially at that point of the game, when we were a little under pressure and finally had a chance to get out, the game got opened up and for him to get on the end of that ball and curl it in was great."

Garcia had a one-on-one opportunity against Trabichet in the 58th minute and Trabichet made an aggressive, sliding save at the edge of the penalty box on a shot by Garcia, but the referee ruled it was too aggressive, giving Trabichet a yellow card and awarding the Jets another penalty kick.

Again, Garcia took the PK, and again, Trabichet blocked it, then quickly smothered the loose ball as Garcia attempted a follow shot off the rebound.

"The two big PK saves were huge," Scott said. "The second one was a bit harsh after he came out with a great initial save. But he made those saves, and several others. I feel like even though they outshot us, the shots they had, some of them weren't really a challenge. I think we limited how dangerous a lot of those opportunities were. But Anthony was big for us tonight."

Trabichet maintained his clean sheet, eventually finishing with nine second-half saves. It was his second shutout of the season, as he also blanked Southwest Baptist (Mo.) in the season opener. His 11 saves on Thursday tied the highest single-game total this season by a Heartland goalkeeper.

Bowman had one save for the Jets.

OC will host another North Division rival, Rogers State, on Saturday afternoon.

David Scott discusses the game: https://youtu.be/5K9rbrBy7gQ