OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 20, 2021) – Texas A&M International converted a penalty kick late in the first half and the Dustdevils rode the momentum to a 3-0 win over Oklahoma Christian on Wednesday night at the Eagle Soccer Field.

TAMIU (5-7-1, 2-2 Lone Star Conference) and OC (1-7-3, 0-3-1) were locked in a scoreless battle when the Eagles were called for a handball in the penalty box in the 41st minute.

Gabriel Gacovicaj appeared to convert the ensuing penalty kick for the Dustdevils, but officials nullified that goal, ruling that players from both teams had illegally entered the penalty box before the kick, and made TAMIU take the penalty again. Johan Portales scored, just beating OC goalkeeper Anthony Trabichet, who was able to deflect the ball but not enough to stop it from going in the goal.

Gacovicaj scored on a 40-yard blast in the 50th minute to make it 2-0. OC earned a penalty kick in the 60th minute, when Alexandre Picoto Rodrigues drew a foul from TAMIU's Jacob Restrepo in the penalty box, but TAMIU backup goalkeeper Nils van der Landen – who entered in relief of injured starter Natxo Faus in the seventh minute – stopped the shot by OC's Michele Perina.

Kristian Colaci closed the scoring for the Dustdevils in the 66th minute. TAMIU only outshot the Eagles 13-10.

Trabichet made three saves for OC, while van der Landen had five and Faus had one (on a breakaway attempt by John Osadolor Ighede in the opening minute).

OC will visit LSC rival St. Mary's (Texas) on Saturday before returning home for another league match against Dallas Baptist (Texas) next Wednesday.