OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – The offensive firepower for the Patriots just couldn't quite get going and the #16 Oklahoma Christian defense held steady while their offense took advantage of two penalty kicks to earn the victory.
 
Both teams would get off to a slower start as the two programs would combine for just four shots total over the first 20 minutes of the contest. Of those four shots, each team would put one on goal and force the goalkeepers to make a save.
 
That lone shot from the UT Tyler side came off of the foot of Bryan Rivas-Guzman, who hit a well struck shot from outside of the box, but it was low and collected off the bounce by the Eagles keeper.
 
The first goal of the game came at the 24:10 mark off of a penalty kick for the Eagles and subsequently the first penalty kick allowed all season for UT Tyler. Gerardo Ramirez drew a yellow card for a tough tackle inside the box, and that put Joep Claassen at the spot for #16 Oklahoma Christian. Claassen was able to hit the perfect shot to the top left corner and open up a 1-0 lead.
 
Both teams would settle into a defensive affair over the next 15 minutes, with Sergio Sola managing the only shot that forced the Eagles keeper to move to his left and make a good save.
 
With just over five minutes remaining in the half, disaster struck again for UT Tyler. Another foul inside the penalty box gave the Eagles their second penalty kick of the night, and Claassen was there again to calmly take it and put the Eagles up 2-0.
 
At the half, #16 Oklahoma Christian held a 6-2 shots advantage and had three of those go on goal while both of the Patriots shots had gone on goal.
 
The second half saw a similar start to the first half with the two teams combining for four shots over the first 12 minutes. Two of those would go on goal yet again, as Rivas-Guzman was able to hit a hard shot from a sharp angle that would earn a corner kick for UT Tyler.
 
The final goal of the night for Oklahoma Christian would come at the 63^rd minute. After a string of passes got them all the way to the touch line, the ball was bounced around but landed right at the feet of John Osadolor Ighede who was able to punch it home to make It 3-0 Eagles.
 
The lone goal for the Patriots was an own goal that deflected off of the Eagles. UT Tyler had earned a corner kick, and the ball was swung in tightly to the head of Johnathan Sosa. Sosa got his head on it and struck a low shot, and that ball bounced off of an Eagles player and just into the net.
 
For UT Tyler, the three goals would be the most allowed all season long by their defense. The two penalty kicks were also the first two penalty kicks allowed this season.
 
Next up will be a return back to Citizens 1^st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex for another big matchup against a ranked opponent in #8 Midwestern State as the Patriots look to get their first win on the board in LSC play.