LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Embry Riddle Eagles flew away with an overtime 3-2 win Friday afternoon, stealing away the game from the Eastern Oregon men's soccer team in the final seconds on Friday night at Community Stadium..
The Mountaineers (1-1-0) took the lead early when senior forward Alex Gutierrez capitalized on an Eagle defensive error, using his speed to beat goal keeper Alistair Stark on a foot race before burying the ball in the back of the net.
The next 40 minutes were a physical battle in the midfield. Both sides had opportunities on goal with Embry Riddle finishing the half with seven shots and Eastern with six.
EOU had a few scares early on in the second half, giving up several fouls outside the box. They then raised their tempo as senior defender Jack Rose spotted transfer Alexander Zuluaga surging up the middle. Rose put a lovely ball over the back line where Zuluaga had a great first touch, calmly putting the ball beyond Stark.
Embry Riddle didn't stop relenting, forcing sophomore Max Rose to make a point blank reaction save, tipping the ball over the bar and denying the Eagles with 26 minutes left on the clock. Rose came up big several times across the 90 minutes, making nine saves.
Simon Jensen put the Eagles foot in the door with fifteen minutes left when they were awarded a questionable free kick. The junior stepped up and struck the ball into the left corner out of Rose's reach to pull the Eagles within one.
EOU still held possession, however, a second yellow and eventual red card (leaving the Mountaineers with 10 men) changed the momentum. Minutes later, Stark took a free kick deep from within their own half and found the head of Mason Laaksonen, who flicked it into the goal with just under three minutes to play. The game then headed to overtime.
In overtime, the Mountaineers controlled the play and had the ball in their attacking half nearly the entirety of the period. However, as the announcer counted down the final 10 seconds, the Eagles took a Hail Mary of a free kick that, after a scramble in the six-yard box, freshman Lucas Garcia Bustillo slotted home with officially one second left in the first overtime period.
The Mountaineers will travel to California next week to play games against Marymount and The Master's (who are both receiving votes in the NAIA top-25) and No. 11 Vanguard.
For more information on Eastern Oregon men's soccer, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com.
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Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu