SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Ottawa University Arizona men's soccer team fell on Thursday evening to Embry-Riddle (AZ) University by a final of 2-1 at Spirit Field in Surprise.
With the loss, the Spirit close out the 2017 season with an overall record of 8-9. With the victory, Embry-Riddle improves to 10-7 on the season.
The Embry-Riddle Eagles struck early on Thursday evening and the Spirit were forced to play catch-up from there on out. ERAU passed the ball around near the OUAZ net in the fifth minute, when Grant Rowe connected on a pass to Nicholas Goldstein to give the Eagles the early 1-0 lead on the Spirit.
OUAZ had a few crosses in the box that they were unable to connect on late in the first half. After 45 minutes of play, the teams headed in for halftime with the Eagles holding a slim 1-0 lead.
In the second half the play intensified on the pitch, with OUAZ knowing they were playing for their postseason life. Embry-Riddle took the life out of the OUAZ crowd, when the Eagles tallied their second goal of the night in the 77th minute off a deflection.
The Spirit would not go away though, as the OUAZ offense would continue to attack the Eagles. In the 82nd minute, Omar Centeno(SO/Los Angeles, CA) scored the Spirit's first goal of the game off a deflection; drawing the game closer at 2-1.
In the end, the OUAZ offense was unable to muster another goal and ended up falling to the Eagles by a final of 2-1.
The loss signals the end of the road for the 2017 Spirit men's soccer team. In their inaugural year, OUAZ finished 8-9 overall.
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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.
