LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University men's soccer battled back in the second half, but a late goal from No. 22 Rocky Mountain College secured a 3-1 victory for the Battlin' Bears Friday night at Community Stadium.
Rocky Mountain applied early pressure, forcing EOU goalkeeper
Kevin Pullara into several saves during the opening half. Eastern Oregon created opportunities of its own, with
Davyd Fedina testing the Battlin' Bears' goalkeeper in the 11th minute, but the visitors continued to threaten in the attacking third. The Battlin' Bears broke through in the 29th minute when Tommaso Giuntini found the back of the net off a corner kick set up by Henry Chalkley, giving Rocky Mountain a 1-0 advantage. Pullara kept the Mountaineers within reach with multiple first-half saves as EOU searched for an equalizer. Fedina forced another save in the 44th minute, while
Taylor Pierce narrowly missed the target with a header. Rocky Mountain carried its one-goal lead into halftime.
The Battlin' Bears doubled their advantage early in the second half when Luke Tooze scored off an assist from Flynn Sweeting to put Rocky Mountain ahead 2-0. Eastern Oregon responded by increasing its attacking pressure. The Mountaineers earned a penalty kick in the 56th minute, but Rocky Mountain goalkeeper Biruk Paulos-Negatu denied
Jason Ortiz's attempt to preserve the two-goal lead. EOU continued to push forward and nearly cut into the deficit in the 71st minute when Fedina's header struck the crossbar before
Armando Castro's follow-up attempt was kept out by the Rocky Mountain defense.
Austin Turner also tested Paulos-Negatu later in the half, but the Battlin' Bears maintained their advantage.
The Mountaineers eventually broke through from the penalty spot after a foul resulted in another penalty kick. Fedina converted the opportunity to put Eastern Oregon on the scoreboard and cut the deficit to 2-1, giving EOU renewed momentum as it searched for a late equalizer. Eastern continued to press in the closing minutes, but Rocky Mountain sealed the result with a goal just seconds before the final whistle to secure the 3-1 victory.
Rocky Mountain finished with a 17-10 advantage in total shots and a 7-6 edge in shots on goal. Pullara recorded four saves for the Mountaineers, while Paulos-Negatu also made four saves for the Battlin' Bears. Fedina led Eastern Oregon with four shots, including three on target, and scored the Mountaineers' lone goal.
The Mountaineers will look to bounce back Saturday when they host Carroll College at Community Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT.
