For their third game of the season, the Golden Hurricane men’s soccer team traveled Virginia to face the second ranked Cavaliers and came away with a 1–1 double-overtime tie.
The matchup, a rematch of the game in Tulsa last season in which the Golden Hurricane scored in sudden death overtime to win 1–0, was closely contested. Throughout the first half, each team had a few chances, but were unable to capitalize.
The first half ended scoreless, but the Cavaliers quickly got on the board with a goal just three minutes into the second half. Tulsa gave up a free kick a few yards from the top of the goal box, and Riggs Lennon bent a shot over the wall of defenders and off of goalie Jake McGuire’s hand to put Virginia on the scoreboard.
Twenty minutes later, the Golden Hurricane responded, with Kay Duit scoring off of a cross from Miguel Velasquez. Velasquez found some space at the left corner of the box, and lifted the ball into the center. Duit reached it with his head, and bounced it past Cavalier goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell.
From there, each team created a few more opportunities, but neither could beat the opposing keeper to pull ahead, and the game went into overtime.
The game continued with the same style in overtime as it had during the rest of the game- tightly contested, with neither side able to put the ball in the back of the net. The Golden Hurricane had two shots hit off the crossbar in overtime, but just couldn’t get a goal, and the game ended as a 1–1 draw.
The game’s statistics portray how close the game was. Each team had 18 shots, while Virginia had the advantage in shots on target at 8–6. Both goalkeepers had strong performances, with McGuire notching 7 saves for the Golden Hurricane and Caldwell recording 5 for the Cavaliers.
After the game, Tulsa coach Tom McIntosh said, “Obviously they are a very good team and I am pleased with our overall performance, but I am disappointed with the result. We hit the cross bar three times tonight and were just a little unfortunate to not get another goal.”
On Sunday night Tulsa played North Carolina at a rainy Chapel Hill and lost 2–1 in a close match.
Tulsa now sits at 1–2–1 on the season. And will look to get back on track on Thursday vs. ORU at home.
In other soccer news this week, Tulsa defensemen Bradley Bourgeois was named one of thirty candidates for the 2015 Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) Award. The honor recognizes student-athletes for their distinction in four categories: community, classroom, character and competition.
Bourgeois has started in every game of his career at TU, and was named preseason American Athletic Conference Defender of the Year. He has maintained a 3.08 GPA, and volunteers often at local food drives.
