WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@HCU 1, UTRGV 0
@SIUE 2, Bradley 0
HCU 1, UTRGV 0
HOUSTON - Ryan Okerayi's steal and smash into the back of the net in the 78th minute gave Houston Christian University a hard-earned 1-0 win over University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday night at Sorrels Field.
The two teams went toe-to-toe for most of the night, with neither team willing to concede any ground. The first half saw just five shots, with each team managing 10 each on the evening after the full 90. The Huskies would narrowly outshoot the Vaqueros 8-7 in the second half, including 5-3 on goal.
HCU would get a corner right out of the gate in the second frame, with Theo Butterworth's header from the backside off the entry going off the post just over two minutes in. Two more chances came 10 minutes later as Jireh Oyebamiji had a shot on target that was saved before unleashing a screamer over the top right corner of the post just seconds later.
UTRGV got a solid chance in the 68th minute when a blast by Keaviano Francis straight on was knocked away by Alex Aitken, one of his five saves on the evening.
In the 78th minute, the Vaqueros tried to play the ball back into their defensive end, with Ryan Okerayi and Jaoquin Suarez getting to the ball simultaneously. The ball kicked back towards UTRGV goalie Fernando Carreon with Okerayi in hot pursuit.
Carreon got a foot on it, but it wasn't enough which allowed Okerayi to knock it away towards a wide open goal. The sophomore would then bury the ball into the back of the net from one foot away, setting off a frenzy in the corner off the HCU sideline.
Okerayi knocked home his second goal of the year, and had two shots on goal along with Rio Pembeton, to lead the hosts. Aitken's clean sheet was his first of the season and his five saves drew him within three of passing Christopher Dodd for third place all-time at HCU.
UTRGV, which falls to 2-3-0 on the season, got shots on goal from five different players. Carreon had a solid night in the pipes as well getting five saves while allowing the lone score.
HCU improves to 2-4-2 on the season and runs its unbeaten streak to three.
SIUE 2, BRADLEY 0
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE scored a pair of goals in the first half Wednesday and then made the lead stand, shutting out Bradley 2-0 in nonconference men's soccer at Korte Stadium.
The Cougars improved to 2-2-2 with the win. Bradley slipped to 3-4-1 with the loss.
Yasha Shaerer put the Cougars on the board in the 23rd minute. Pavel Dashin slipped a ball through the defense into the middle of the box. Shaerer took a touch with his left before hitting a shot from the penalty spot for his second goal of the season.
Dashin doubled SIUE's lead exactly seven minutes later. Nic Muench made a lengthy run down the right side, before putting a ball on goal from just inside the box. Dashin was able to redirect from close range for the two-goal lead.
Bradley ramped up the pressure in the second half, but never found the back of the net.
After the Cougars outshot the Braves 7-3 in the first 45 minutes, Bradley turned the tables in the second half, outshooting SIUE 7-3 after halftime.
Rob Gjelaj made three saves on his way to his second shutout in the last three games.
Dahsin led the Cougars with three total shots, including two on goal. Nacho Abeal also had two shots on goal.