OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 4, 2021) – Stat sheets rarely come as balanced as the one for the men's soccer game Saturday night between Oklahoma Christian and Texas-Tyler, so perhaps it's appropriate the match ended in a draw.

Luke Humphrey knocked home a long free kick by Miguel Fonseca in the 65th minute, which proved to be enough for OC to secure a 1-1 tie with the Patriots at the Eagle Soccer Field in the debut of new OC coach Mitchell Sowerby.

"It was a very competitive and fun game, especially for the neutral fans," Sowerby said. "For us personally it is a foundation, a starting point, in which we know we will build from. I know people are going to see the game and start giving us immediate respect. We have to get back to work, improve and prepare for Wednesday night."

OC (0-0-1) and Texas-Tyler (0-0-1) each had 15 shots and six shots on goal. Both goalkeepers – Anthony Trabichet for the Eagles, Mathias Eriksen for the Patriots – made five saves. Trabichet's final save came literally as time expired on an acrobatic shot by Texas-Tyler's Malte Andres that nearly won the game in dramatic fashion for the Patriots.

Eriksen made two saves in the second overtime period, on shots by Carlos Trapero and John Osadolor Ighede.

The Patriots took the lead in the 31st minute, when Soren Wald scored off a corner kick by Sergio Sola. The goal ended a sequence in which the Patriots had three prime scoring opportunities, including two corner kicks, as OC's defense failed to clear the ball out of danger.

In the 65th minute, Texas-Tyler's Thierry Assamoi earned a yellow card, giving the Eagles a free kick from about 45 yards out. Fonseca, with a north wind at his back, boomed the free kick into a crowded penalty box, where Humphrey – a fifth-year senior who's the Eagles' captain – connected for his first career goal.

Although Texas-Tyler is one of OC's fellow Lone Star Conference members, the game Saturday was considered a nonconference game, one of four such games against LSC foes that OC is mandated to play this season. The Eagles will play in Tyler, Texas, on Oct. 16 in a rematch that will count in the LSC standings.

OC will return to action Wednesday, hosting longtime regional rival Newman (Kan.). OC has a 15-11-1 all-time record against the Jets, who once shared the Heartland Conference with OC but now compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.