Hustlin’ Owls Shoot Past Mountaineers
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.- Two second half goals lifted Oregon Tech past Eastern Oregon 2-1 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play Friday night at Trevor Derrah Field. The Owls improve to 4-3 in CCC play and 6-5 on the year. Oregon Tech has now won 4 of its last 5 conference games for thefirst time since 2009. Eastern falls to 1-4 in CCC action with the loss and is 2-5 in its inaugural season.
After a scoreless first half, Tech’s Casey Oltman put the home team on the scoreboard in the 57th minute when he took a free ball, dribbled through and around three defenders before beating the keeper from 15 yards out. The goal gave Tech the 1-0 lead and was Oltman’s conference leading 9th of the year.
Tech added to the lead in the 87th minute as Colten Grytness found Luis Valdez directly in front of the goal, Valdez collected, turned and scored giving the Owls a 2-0 lead.
Eastern Oregon however didn’t quit, and after Alex Gutierrez was sent to the sidelines with a red card, the Mountaineers playing a man down, found a way to score in the 89th minute as Chris Gianandrea found Fredy Rodriguez who shot and scored from 20 feet out.
For the game EOU held a 15-12 edge in shots and a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal. Tech Keeper Gerardo Skewes had a huge game being credited with 8 saves in the game to lead the Owls to the 2-1 win.
Oregon Tech will host Warner Pacific (2-2-1 CCC, 4-5-1) Saturday at 7:00 pm at Steen Sports Park with Eastern Oregon traveling over the hill to battle Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Ore. at 7:00 pm. Warner Pacific downed SOU 4-1 Friday night.