OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University dropped a 4-3 decision to USAO on Tuesday night at Stars Field.
The loss put the Stars at 5-2, 0-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference men's soccer. USAO improved to 7-2, 1-0 in the SAC.
USAO got on the board first in the 10th minute as Bjarne Deraeve's shot flew into the back of the net. Deraeve didn't take long to connect on another goal in the 15th minute. OCU climbed back with a goal in the 19th minute on a cross from Aboubakr Diallo to Petar Djurdjevic to lead Henrik Verolet. Verolet's shot hit the crossbar and ricocheted down into the goal. Fernando Toledo, a junior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, tied things up in the 21st minute on a shot that was again set up by a Diallo cross.
USAO broke the tie in the 62nd minute with a goal by Joe Williams, who then added to their lead with another goal in the 72nd minute. Both goals were aided by Deraeve, while Abdel Nait-Zerrad also collected an assist. Dario McDaniel, a freshman from Puyallup, Wash., surprised the defense with a deep shot that soared into the high, right corner of the goal to rally OCU in the 76th minute.
USAO held the shot advantage 16-12. Stars goalkeeper Andre Salvador, a junior from Sao Bento do Sul, Brazil, collected four saves, while Daniel Merkel also collected four saves for the Drovers.
Oklahoma City returns to action 7 p.m. Saturday against John Brown (Ark.) in Siloam Springs, Ark.