SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. – Oklahoma City University fell 3-1 to Georgia-Gwinnett Friday in the opening match of the John Brown Classic at Alumni Field.
The Stars, now 1-2 on the young season, shut down the Grizzlies in the first half, but conceded three second-half goals and suffered the 3-1 setback.
OCU goalkeeper Joe Shulberg made six saves in the first half to keep Georgia-Gwinnett off the scoreboard.
In the 22nd minute, Ruy Vaz put a shot on target but hit the crossbar and the match stayed scoreless.
Adam Black had a shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but Georgia-Gwinnett goalkeeper Lewis Sharpe made the save to keep the score 0-0.
The Grizzlies jumped on top in the 51st minute when Rene Enang took a pass from Martin Lugo and scored to make the score 1-0.
In the 63rd minute, Georgia-Gwinnett doubled its lead to 2-0 when Lugo found the back of the net.
Georgia-Gwinnett scored again in the 64th minute when Ruud Grol took a pass from Johan Sanchez and scored to give the Grizzlies a 3-0 advantage.
The Stars cut the lead to 3-1 in the 68th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick. Black took advantage of the opportunity and beat Sharpe to score his second goal of the season.
OCU outshot Georgia-Gwinnett 9-4 in the second half but failed to find the back of the net and fell 3-1.
Shulberg played all 90 minutes in goal for the Stars and made six saves.
OCU will return to action in its second match of the John Brown Classic against Concordia (Neb.) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Alumni Field in Siloam Springs, Ark.