LINDSBORG, Kan. – Oklahoma City University began its 2018 men's soccer campaign on Tuesday with a 5-2 victory over Bethany (Kan.) at Anderson Stadium.
James Beattie, a senior from Glasgow, Scotland, led OCU by recording a pair of goals and an assist. OCU improved to 1-0 to start the season, while Bethany dropped to 0-2.
The Stars led the duration of the game. Andre Salvador, a junior from São Bento do Sul, Brazil, contributed remarkable goalkeeping by recording six saves, four coming in the second period.
Beattie, Aboubakr Diallo and Petar Djurdjevic led an all-out attack for the Stars that included 20 shots on the day. Djurdjevic, a senior from Belgrade, Serbia, had three shots, one of which was on goal. Diallo, a senior from Oyem, Gabon, added five shots with three on goal, while Beattie had five shots, all of which were on goal.
The Stars attacked early and often in the match with eight shots in the first period with Henrik Verolet scoring the first goal of the season in the 38th minute. Beattie provided the assist. Fernando Toledo, a junior from São Paulo, Brazil, added a goal in the 45th minute of play to extent the Stars' lead to 2-0.
Nick Stremel, a sophomore from Plettenberg, Germany, recorded a goal in the 54th minute. Beattie rounded out the scoring for the Stars with goals in the 57th and 61st minutes. Djurdjevic and Verolet added assists in the second period.
The Swedes' two goals happened after the Stars had total control of the tempo leading well into the second period. Bethany's two goals came in the 62nd minute and in the 84th minute.
Oklahoma City fired 20 total shots, 14 on goal. Bethany had 21 shots, with nine on goal.
OCU returns to action at 3 p.m. Saturday against Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) at Stars Field.