COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (May 1, 2022) – How you advance ultimately isn't as important as the advancing itself, a lesson No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Christian successfully learned this weekend in the USA Ultimate South Central Regional tournament.
After a shocking loss in the regional opener meant OC needed to win four straight games to earn a shot at defending its Division III national title, the Eagles finished that quest on Sunday, taking down No. 20 John Brown (Ark.) 15-6 and No. 7 Missouri S&T 15-12 to secure
the consolation-bracket title.
OC earned the second (and final) bid from the South Central Region into the
USA Ultimate Division III Championship tournament, set for May 21-23 at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.
OC won the 2021 Division III crown in December in Norco, Calif., and in this most unusual of collegiate Ultimate seasons, the Eagles will have the rare opportunity to win two national titles in one academic year.
OC entered the two-day tournament as
a prohibitive favorite in Division III's deepest regional, with six of the seven teams entered ranked by Ultiworld.com. But Missouri S&T stunned the Eagles 15-9 in the opening match of pool play, sending them into uncharted territory in the consolation bracket, where a second loss most likely would prematurely end their season.
The Eagles proved up to the challenge. On Saturday, they routed John Brown 15-5 in the final match of pool play, then rolled past Colorado School of Mines 15-6 to advance to the consolation semifinal.
A second game on Sunday against John Brown's Ironfist squad went much like the first, with the Eagles winning 15-6. Three first-half breaks propelled OC to an 8-4 lead and a D by
Samuel Roberts highlighted a dominant second half for the Eagles.
Missouri S&T dropped a tough 15-14 match to No. 6 Colorado College in the winners' bracket final, and the Miner Threat squad then had to turn around and face OC for a national-tournament berth.
OC's defensive line recorded a break during the first two points and the Eagles recorded four straight holds to take a 4-2 lead. Another break sent OC to halftime ahead 8-6 and the defensive line kept up its strong play with two more second-half breaks to make it 12-8. The Eagles were able to close it out from there.
