Box Score MARSHALL, Texas – It was definitely a game of momentum in tonight's American Southwest Conference matchup between East Texas Baptist University and the University of the Ozarks. Ozarks came out on top in overtime over ETBU, scoring the golden goal in the 99th minute, winning 3-2. Ozarks improves to 2-1-1 in ASC play, and 8-1-2 overall in 2016. ETBU drops to 6-4 overall, and 1-2 in ASC play.
In the first half, ETBU had chances to score but failed to capitalize on their shots as Ozarks kept them out of the net for the first 45 minutes of tonight's contest. Ozarks struck first in the form of a penalty kick from Thomas Mills in the 21st minute. ETBU outshot Ozarks 11-5 in the first half.
The second half was full of momentum swings. Ozarks scored in the 53rd minute to grab a 2-0 over ETBU on a goal from Bryce Young. ETBU would answer back under four minutes later on a free kick from Max Ponticorvo. Ponticorvo found Travis Atkinson for his first career goal to bring the score within one. Eight minutes later ETBU found gold again as immediate substitute Antoine Bravo knocked in his first goal of the season off of a throw in from Matthew Argenbright to knot the score up at 2-2.
The match was eventually sent into overtime where Ozarks won the contest on a golden goal from Sean Garcia to Mills to end the thriller in Marshall. Mills and Johnson Cijulus led Ozarks with four shots and two shots on goal. ETBU was led by David Jackson with seven shots, five of which were on goal. Jordan Burke pitched in three shots and three shots on goal as well.
Luis Mena earned the victory in tonight's heavily competitive match, while Bryant Botello drops to 5-4 on the season for ETBU.
Chris Crawford had this to say on tonight's match, “I could not be more proud of my guys. They worked hard for 100 minutes and never quit. We made great strides and improvements tonight that will carry us the rest of the year. It hurts to lose a game that we played that well on both sides of the ball and had the momentum. It was just one of those nights.”
ETBU returns to action with two ASC road matches out of state in Lousiana and Mississippi. ETBU will face Louisiana College on Thursday and Belhaven University on Saturday following the women's matches.
