Conway – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team played its final home match of the season on Tuesday night, making up a rained-out match against Oral Roberts at the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex. The Bears set a new season-high in goals scored on the night, taking down the Golden Eagles 4-2.
Pepe San Roman got the scoring started for Central Arkansas (3-11-1) in the 30
th minute, ripping a shot into the top-right corner of the Oral Roberts (5-7-2) goal from 30 yards out to put UCA up 1-0.
Colton Jackson added on in the 36
th minute, fielding a pass from
Manuel Montal and chipping it over ORU keeper Ben LaCourse from 20 yards out to make it 2-0 in favor of the Bears. "Pepe had an absolutely outstanding strike to get things rolling for us," said UCA head coach Ross Duncan following the match. "And Colton is a guy that's just incredibly difficult to defend. He's difference from anything you see all year, and we love him for that. He's worked hard, and he didn't get a lot of time early, but he's come on late and had some really good performances for us."
Logan Miller got what would prove to be the game-winner in the 57
th minute, as San Roman and
Blake Stricker connected to feed him just inside the box, where he hammered it home from 15 yards out.
Oral Roberts got on the board in the 63
rd minute, when Johnny Chavez broke through the Central Arkansas back line and put the ball away from 15 yards out.
Miller returned the favor in the 79
th minute, collecting a pass from Jackson and hitting it home from eight yards out for his second goal of the day. "Logan has had a season that he's going to remember for a long time," said Duncan. "He's responded really well to adversity this year, and we've asked a lot of him. We've expected a lot of him, especially as the season has progressed, and he's responded really well."
ORU struck again in the 84
th minute, when Chavez found Edgardo Mira, who scored a sliding goal from three yards out to make the final tally 4-2.
Oral Roberts held an 18 to 13 advantage in shots on the night, though Central Arkansas held a nine to eight edge in shots on goal. Miller, San Roman, and Alejandro Moquete all put two shots on goal for the Bears, while Stricker, Jackson, and Wes Carson each put one shot on target. Zari Prescod led the Golden Eagles with a pair of shots on goal, while six players each had a single shot on goal.
Harrison Veith earned the win for Central Arkansas, making six saves and allowing a pair of goals, while LaCourse took the loss on the back of five saves and four goals allowed.
The Bears return to Missouri Valley play on Saturday, travelling to Des Moines, Iowa to take on Drake for their final league game of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM. "We beat Drake Saturday night, and we're into the conference tournament," said Duncan of the Bears' upcoming matchup. "The win tonight is a confidence-builder for us, because of our struggles to score goals this year, so to put up four tonight, gives us a ton of confidence because now we know that if we keep tight in the back, we've got goals coming."
