MESA, Ariz. - The Ottawa University Arizona men's soccer team took to the pitch on a tough Thursday evening. The Spirit fell to Benedictine University at Mesa by a final of 2-1.
With the loss, the Spirit fall to 3-4 overall on the season. With the victory, Benedictine University in Mesa improves to 2-1 on the season.
Just two days ago (Wednesday), the Spirit suffered their worst loss of the year, when freshman forward Eduardo Aguilar-Mendoza (FR/Manteca, CA) lost his life following a single-car accident that occurred last weekend. Injured in the accident was a fellow teammate who is currently being treated at a local hospital for injuries and is expected to be released soon.
The Spirit took the field Thursday by honoring Aguilar-Mendoza. He was included in the starting 11, which consisted of: Aguilar-Mendoza, Siaha, Soriano, Castro, Larios, Ochoa, Lopez, Ruelas, Bianchi, Acosta, and George. When the opening whistle blew, the Spirit played the ball forward, at that time everyone on the field dropped to a knee for a moment of silence in remembrance of Eduardo Aguilar-Mendoza. Following the moment of silence, a teammate picked up the ball; which was signed by the entire OUAZ team, and took it over to Eddie's mom who was sitting in the front row.
The game then returned to action, with the Spirit beginning the game with the ball. It was an emotional defensive battle in the first half. The Redhawks broke through the OUAZ defense and struck in the 24thminute, when Nico Davis found Gerves Fagan to give BenU Mesa the 1-0 lead. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of the Redhawks as the teams headed to halftime.
In the second half, Benedictine struck for their second goal of the match in the 59th minute, when Gerves Fagan and Bosko Ubiparipovic set-up Bwaleso Igulu to make it 2-0.
OUAZ's offense struck in the 68th minute when Ricardo Navarro(FR/Inglewood, CA) connected on a pass to Samuel George(FR/Sittingbourne, England); cutting the Redhawks lead to 2-1. The Spirit continued to fight until the very end, but were unable to get another goal past Redhawks keeper Luke Boudreau.
In the loss, OUAZ was outshot 12-8 and the Redhawks finished with four corner kicks, while OUAZ attempted three.
The Spirit have the next week off, before returning to action next Thursday September 21st at 7pm at Biola University in La Mirada, California.
A GoFundMe account has been started by the family to assist with costs. To donate click here.
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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.
