SURPRISE, Ariz. – Another composed finish in a 3-2 defeat of Ottawa (Ariz.) kept the Southern Oregon men's soccer team perfect in non-conference play amid searing heat Monday at Spirit Field.
Not long after a mandatory hydration break, Sky Charley-Bolyard unleveled a 1-1 score in the 72nd minute with his second goal of the season. Adrian Villegas made it a two-score lead in the 81st, taking an assist from Alan Gaytan to give the Raiders just enough breathing room.
They upped their record to 4-0. It was the second time in three days they'd dealt an opponent their first loss, having started with Saturday's 1-0 win at Arizona Christian in which Villegas deposited the game-winner in the 79th.
"This was a very tough weekend against two strong NAIA programs," SOU coach Davie Carmichael said. "We dealt with high temperatures and 180 minutes of football in less than 48 hours, but our identity was clear in both games and that little bit of class shined when it mattered. We were patient with the ball and penetrated at key moments."
Evan Norconk's first-half goal, assisted by Mustafa Daggig in the 38th minute, stood as the only one of the match until Ottawa's Jamaine Turner converted a penalty kick seven minutes into the second half. After Villegas made it 3-1, Ingram Kusaloka's goal got the Spirit back within striking distance with eight minutes remaining.
SOU keeper Casey Ruvolo stopped their only shot on target the rest of the way. He finished with seven saves.
The Spirit, picked to finish second in the Golden State Athletic Conference, fell to 2-1-2.
"It's impossible to select a man of the match today because it took all 19 players to push us over the line," Carmichael said. "Everyone put in a shift."
Villegas is up to three goals on the season and 23 in his career. It took the senior nine outings to get his third in 2022.
The Raiders, winners of four straight to start the year for the third time in team history, have their final tune-up for Cascade Conference play Sept. 9 at Menlo (Calif.). Dating back to last season, they've gone 14-1-2 over their last 17 games.