OKLAHOMA CITY (March 24, 2021) – On a Senior Day to remember for Oklahoma Christian, the Eagles posted one of the most impressive results in the program's history.

Natalie Thomas and Brianna Concienne scored the goals and goalkeeper Gabby Goddard made nine saves as unheralded OC hung right with Dallas Baptist (Texas) – the No. 1 women's team in NCAA Division II – and nearly took down the mighty Patriots while earning a 2-2 tie on a cloudy Wednesday at the Eagle Soccer Field.

The result no doubt will turn heads not only in the Lone Star Conference, but across Division II. OC (1-6-2, 0-3-2 LSC) had lost 11 straight games to Dallas Baptist (8-0-1, 3-0-1) since moving into the NCAA ranks and entered the game sporting a 2-11 all-time record against the Patriots. During that 11-game streak, the Eagles had only scored two goals against DBU.

The Patriots had surrendered only five goals this season, and no more than one to any opponent. They were only 12 days removed from a 2-1 win at Louisiana State – that LSU, the one in the Southeastern Conference – and only four days removed from beating another Division I foe, Abilene Christian, by a 3-1 count. DBU moved to No. 1 in this week's United Soccer Coaches rankings for the first time in program history after those wins.

Before Wednesday, DBU – the reigning LSC champion and a perennial Division II tournament qualifier – was 25-1-3 since the start of the 2019 season, while OC was 4-20-1. On paper, it might have seemed like a mismatch, but as they say, that's why they play the game.

Don't look now, but the Eagles have earned a result in their last three matches, going 1-0-2 in that stretch.

"These girls are continuing to make one a believer of them," OC coach Meagan Anderson said. "We had a game plan coming into this game and our girls executed. DBU is a very good team and is coached very well. This was a great result for our team. They played with a lot of determination and heart.

"We haven't lost in three games, a goal we are continuing to achieve each time out in the field. To get a result as this, on Senior Night even, means a lot for our team. 

Dallas Baptist outshot OC 24-6, but the Eagles gathered steam as the game progressed. The Patriots struck first, in the 19th minute, when Delaney Schmidt hit the post with a shot, which caromed to her teammate, Abigail Olmos. Olmos beat Goddard to put the Patriots up 1-0.

OC equalized in the 63rd minute. Concienne – one of the Eagles' four seniors – delivered a picture-perfect corner kick into penalty box and Thomas, a junior forward from Colleyville, Texas, headed it past DBU goalkeeper Adrianna Schroeder.

Concienne, a forward from Flower Mound, Texas, put the Eagles ahead in the 87th minute. She took a cross from the right side of the field, and, while in the penalty box, twice shot, only to have both shots blocked by a DBU defender. The ball caromed back to Concienne both times, and her third shot in the sequence found the back of the net.

The elation didn't even last a minute, though. In the 88th minute, Gabrielle Heller's pass into the penalty box set up Ashley Merrill for a one-on-one with Goddard and Merrill converted to tie the game.

In the two 10-minute overtime periods, the Eagles never could mount an offensive threat, but their defense played strong, allowing the Patriots only two shots and drawing them into eight offside calls.

Schroeder made two saves for Dallas Baptist.

In addition to Concienne, the other OC seniors most likely playing their final home game Wednesday were Chanie Scrivner, Corina Marin and Maria Chilito.

OC will wrap up the regular season next Wednesday at LSC foe Texas-Tyler before learning who it will play in the league's postseason tournament.