LA GRANDE, Ore. — Eastern Oregon (RV) Men's Soccer opened Cascade Collegiate Conference play with an upset Sunday afternoon, rallying past No. 25 Warner Pacific 2-1 at Community Stadium.
The Mountaineers were forced to wait to begin conference play after Friday's scheduled opener was suspended just six minutes into the match because of weather. When EOU finally returned to the pitch Sunday, the Mountaineers wasted little time responding to the challenge.
Just 21 seconds into the match, Warner Pacific worked the ball into the attacking third and created an opportunity in front of the EOU goal. As Mountaineer goalkeeper
Victor Melendez came off his line to challenge for the ball, the two players collided, resulting in a foul inside the penalty area and a penalty kick for the Knights. Warner Pacific converted the opportunity to take a 1-0 lead just seconds into the contest. Melendez got a hand to the penalty kick and knocked the ball into the side post, but the rebound ricocheted back toward goal and crossed the line.
Rather than allowing the early setback to dictate the match, Eastern Oregon immediately pushed back.
Henry Lopez provided much of the Mountaineers' early offensive pressure, firing three shots during the opening stretch. Two of Lopez's attempts were blocked by Warner Pacific defenders as EOU searched for an equalizer. After earning a free kick, Lopez delivered the ball into the center of the penalty area, finding
Taylor Pierce in position to finish the opportunity. Pierce put the ball away for his first goal of the season, leveling the match at 1-1.
From there, the game got aggressive with the teams battling it out to hold possession.
Christian Samayoa, Lopez,
Njabulo Nkosi continued to fire off shots while six yellow cards were pulled between the two teams. With the first half nearing the end,
JJ Gallardo passed the ball up to
Rene Prieto who then passed it into
Austin Turner, who finished it off with a shot into the net to give EOU the lead heading into the break.
The Knights came out aggressively after halftime, putting two shots toward the EOU goal in the opening three minutes, but the Mountaineer defense held firm as both teams struggled to generate sustained offensive chances.
Victor Melendez continued to anchor Eastern Oregon in goal, making saves on Warner Pacific attempts in the 61st and 89th minutes.
Eastern Oregon's best opportunities came from
Fansu Conteh, who recorded two shots late in the half, but neither found the back of the net. As the clock wound down, Warner Pacific increased the pressure, earning three corner kicks in the final 12 minutes. With just under three minutes remaining, Hunter Cunningham's shot struck the post before Melendez denied Luis Gonzalez in the final minute to preserve the Mountaineers' conference-opening victory.
Henry Lopez led the Mountaineers offensively with five shots, while Conteh and
Christian Samayoa each added two. Melendez played all 90 minutes and finished with five saves to help secure the win.
With the victory, Eastern Oregon opens CCC play with a 2-1 win over the nationally ranked Knights, improving to 1-1-2 overall. The Mountaineers will next travel to Corban University on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. PT for another conference matchup.
