DALTON, Ga.— The Eastern Oregon Mountaineers' run in the NAIA National Tournament came to a halt Saturday with a 3-0 loss to the #1-ranked Dalton State Roadrunners. The Mounties battled valiantly but were unable to match the undefeated Roadrunners.
Dalton State opened the scoring late in the first half, with forward Jack Stainrod netting a goal in the 41st minute off assists from Kazuma Ishizuka and Jip van den Essen. Stainrod added a second goal just five minutes into the second half, assisted by Juan Demichelis and Giovanni Poliero, giving the Roadrunners a comfortable lead. Giovanni Poliero capped the scoring in the 75th minute, finishing a setup by Jamie Mendiola.
Eastern Oregon's defense was tested throughout, with Dalton State firing 17 shots, including 12 on goal. Goalkeeper Anthony Lemus put in a standout performance, recording eight saves in 83 minutes of play.
The Mountaineers struggled to find offensive rhythm against Dalton State's organized defense. EOU managed nine total shots, two on goal, but failed to find the back of the net. Jahrie Gray and Tawanda Rice registered the team's best chances.
Key Stats:
- Dalton State: 17 shots, 12 on goal, 6 corner kicks, 7 fouls
- Eastern Oregon: 9 shots, 2 on goal, 6 corner kicks, 14 fouls
- EOU Goalkeeper Anthony Lemus: 8 saves in 83 minutes
- Dalton State Scorers: Jack Stainrod (2 goals), Giovanni Poliero (1 goal)
Even with the loss, the Mounties have much to celebrate after a memorable season. The team demonstrated a remarkable comeback story—going from not qualifying for the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Tournament last year to winning the program's first-ever CCC Tournament title and advancing deeper into the national tournament than ever before. EOU ends the season at 11-4-5 and looks ahead to the offseason.
