PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico men’s soccer team battled hard and looked to be in control for the majority of the match before falling to Oklahoma Christian 3-2 Thursday night.
The Hounds came out strong and netted the first two goals of the game before an own goal led to three unanswered scores from the visiting Eagles. Eastern outshot OC 20-9 and was awarded six corner kicks and turned that into two quality goals but could not hold on for the victory.
Sophomore Joe Conway broke up the tie ball game in the 8:50 mark following a shot from junior Lucas Vaz that the Eagles defense failed to clear. Vaz’s shot richocheted off the Eagle’s keeper and bounced around the feet of the defenders before Conway corralled the loose ball and sent his shot into the back of the net for his sixth goal of the year.
The Hounds used perfect passing and unselfish play to create their second goal just five minutes into the second half. Senior Robbie Leonard dribbled the ball down the left sideline before sending a deep cross into the box. Senior Julian Trapp headed the well-placed cross to the feet of junior Charlie Hackshall who one-timed it and buried the ball in the bottom left corner.
The Eagles would benefit from an own goal given up by the Hounds in the 68th minute before being awarded a penalty kick ten minutes later. OC would score the game-winner in the 86th minute and even though the Greyhounds made several offensive charges in the final four minutes of the game they failed to score an equalizer.
Eastern (9-5-1, 1-5-1 LSC) will look for more favorable results when they face #13 Midwestern State on Saturday at 7 p.m. inside Greyhound Stadium.
