GREAT FALLS, Mont. — Fansu Conteh delivered the decisive moment Saturday afternoon, finding the net in the 86th minute to lift Eastern Oregon University men's soccer to a 1-0 victory over the University of Providence. The Mountaineers' persistent attacking pressure finally paid off late in the match, securing a valuable Cascade Collegiate Conference win on the road.
The Mountaineers controlled the match offensively from the opening whistle but had to remain patient before finally breaking through in the closing minutes. Eastern Oregon finished with 29 shots, including 10 on target, while holding Providence to just three shots and none on goal.
EOU created opportunities throughout the first half, earning five corner kicks and putting pressure on the Argos' defense.
Lance Nelson tested Providence goalkeeper Teddy Benbow early, while
Henry Lopez and
Taylor Pierce forced additional saves after Thomas Sine entered in goal. Despite the Mountaineers' attacking pressure, the teams remained scoreless at halftime.
Eastern Oregon continued its attack after the break, generating several dangerous chances in quick succession.
JJ Gallardo,
Davyd Fedina and
Maximo Melgar each tested the Providence defense, while a shot from Melgar in the 59th minute required a defensive save from Sherry Msuku Jr. Gallardo and
Njabulo Nkosi followed with shots on target, but Sine continued to keep the Mountaineers off the scoreboard.
As the second half progressed, Eastern Oregon maintained its pressure, earning nine corner kicks after halftime and repeatedly forcing Providence to defend its own end. The Mountaineers recorded 19 second-half shots compared to just three for the Argos.
The breakthrough finally came in the 86th minute. After nearly 86 minutes of scoreless play, Conteh found the back of the net to give Eastern Oregon a crucial 1-0 lead. The Mountaineers held firm through the final minutes, with Providence's Ian Razo receiving a red card in the 88th minute as EOU closed out the victory.
The defensive performance was equally important for the Mountaineers. The Eastern Oregon back line kept Providence without a shot on goal, securing the shutout. Providence goalkeeper Sine finished with six saves.
With the win, Eastern Oregon improves to 4-3-6 overall and 4-2-4 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. The Mountaineers now turn their attention to the final stretch of the regular season, with two home matches remaining, hosting Evergreen on October 30th at 6:30 p.m. PT.
