OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 16, 2021) – If you didn't know which soccer team was nationally ranked before watching Oklahoma Christian host Rogers State on Thursday night, you might have guessed incorrectly following the match.

Unranked OC took the battle to No. 17 Rogers State from the start, controlled the game for long stretches and outshot the Hillcats 25-11. Unfortunately for the Eagles, a couple of timely defensive plays by one of Rogers State's leaders meant OC came away only with a 1-1 draw instead of the win at the Eagle Soccer Field.

OC (1-1-2) did earn its first result against Rogers State (3-1-1) since Sept. 23, 2017, snapping a four-game losing streak against the Hillcats, a former Heartland Conference rival of OC's which now plays in the Great American Conference in men's soccer.

"It was a great game from start to finish," said OC coach Mitchell Sowerby, a former player and assistant coach for Rogers State. "Of course, we are upset not to come away with a win after creating a lot of great chances. However, we have to take the positives and continue to grow. We want to thank everyone for coming out and showing the support they did.

"We're good at home. Now we need to replicate that away from home."

Using only 13 players against the Hillcats, Sowerby received offensive contributions from up and down the lineup. Nine of the 13 players recorded at least one shot, with sensational substitute John Osadolor Ighede notching five, including his first career goal that tied the game in the 54th minute. Ighede rose above a crowd to head in a cross from the right side from Carlos Trapero.

OC's defensive unit, anchored by senior captain Luke Humphrey, limited Rogers State's chances, and goalkeeper Anthony Trabichet also shined, making six saves. One came on a point-blank shot by George Robinson in the 38th minute that would have given the Hillcats a 2-0 advantage.

Rogers State had taken the lead about a minute earlier. Trabichet deflected away an initial shot by Ruben Carrasco, but Jordan Watson corralled the rebound and slid it into the goal.

Rogers State goalkeeper Declan Viljoen made five saves, but it was 6-foot-6 defender Michael Turner – the GAC defensive player of the year during the spring 2021 season – who was the Hillcats' ace. In the 21st minute, a shot by OC freshman Isaias Silva appeared headed into the goal before Turner cleared it off the goal line to prevent the Eagles from taking an early lead.

With the score tied in the 71st minute, Turner did the same thing on a shot by OC's Michele Perina.

The best scoring chance for either team during the two 10-minute overtimes came for the Eagles in the 96th minute, as a header by Ighede zipped just over the crossbar.

"We worked a lot this week on creating better opportunities," Sowerby said. "We just need to work a little bit more at putting it in the net. There will be days when it comes and we'll score a lot and there will be days like this that will be frustrating. We've just got to keep our heads up and keep working."

Due to COVID-19 protocols, OC's nonconference home game against another GAC foe, Harding (Ark.), that was scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled. The Eagles' next game will be a nonconference game on the road against a Lone Star Conference opponent, Lubbock Christian (Texas), on Wednesday. OC's next home game will be Oct. 2 against Midwestern State (Texas).

Mitchell Sowerby discusses the match: https://youtu.be/HwXgcBfG2bk