Box Score (html)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Following a move to Springfield from Bolivar, Missouri, due to unplayable field conditions, Oklahoma Baptist tied Southwest Baptist late Saturday night, 3-3. The Bison saw victory snatched away with 33 seconds left on the clock while leading 3-2, before two scoreless extra time periods resulted in the draw.
Southwest Baptist scored the opening salvo in the 28th minute, but senior midfielder
Pablo Garcia restored parity with a hard shot in the box that deflected off a defender and wrong-footed SBU goalkeeper Matt Garza to make it 1-1 in the 36th minute of play. The score would remain tied for the rest of the half.
Both offenses exploded for a combined four goals in the second half. The Bison again found themselves trailing when the Bearcats capitalized on a header off a long throw-in shortly after the restart. However,
Matthew Giudice, again brought the match level as he converted from the spot in the 68th minute. The Edmond, Oklahoma, native would strike again five minutes later when, in the 73rd minute, he picked up a failed defensive clearance and sent his shot past Garza into the right corner.
With what seemed like the result in hand, disaster struck in the dying embers of the match when the ball pinged around the area and past
Bronson Wise to make it 3-3 and sending the match to extra time.
Thiago Dos Santos forced two saves while taking all four shots for OBU in over two 10-minute periods, and Wise made one save, but it was not enough as the sides saw the match end in a draw.
Oklahoma Baptist resumes action on Monday, Sept. 19 as they head to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, for a 7 p.m. meeting with Northeastern State.
