SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Ottawa University Arizona Spirit men's soccer team shutout the Arizona Christian University Firestorm in their home opener on Thursday evening, by a final of 3-0 at the CCV Surprise Soccer Field.
With the victory, the Spirit improve to 6-6 overall on the year. With the loss, Arizona Christian falls to 7-7-1 overall.
Thursday's men's match had a similar feel to the women's match played just prior to this match. Both teams used the first half to feel their opponent out. These two teams last met to open the regular season on August 19th, in which the Firestorm came out victorious 5-1. Thursday's outcome was very different.
After a scoreless first half, the Spirit went on the attack. Just a minute and a half into the second half, OUAZ lit up the scoreboard. Ramsin Larios (FR/Turlock,CA) found Omar Centeno (SO/Los Angeles, CA) for the game's first goal, giving the Spirit a 1-0 lead.
It was a physical match and yet the Spirit were able to power through and tack on a few more goals. In the 73rd minute, Jacob Garcia (FR/Las Vegas, NV) sent a strike in the box that beat ACU's keeper to give the Spirit a 2-0 lead.
OUAZ would put the game out of reach in the 82nd minute, when Giovanni Ruelas (FR/Manteca, CA) found Ricardo Navarro(FR/Inglewood, CA) to give the Spirit the commanding 3-0 lead.
In the win, Spirit goalie Antony Siaha (SO/Yaounde, Cameroon) recorded his second shutout of the season while recording five saves.
The OUAZ men hit the road this Monday, when they travel to La Verne, California to face the University of La Verne at 7pm. The Spirit men return home next Saturday October 21st, to host Bethesda University of California at 5:30pm.
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About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 3,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu.
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and on Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.
