CHICKASHA, OKLA. - The Oklahoma City Stars men's soccer team suffered a 3-1 loss in the SAC semifinal as the Drovers scored two goals in the second half sending themselves on to the championship game.

Score      

Science & Arts 3, Oklahoma City 1    

• Oklahoma City (8-8-3)      
• Science & Arts (9-7-4)  

Scoring Summary       

18' | Matija Malenovic (9) | Science & Arts 1, Oklahoma City 0     

55' | Jordan Da Costa (7) | Science & Arts 1, Oklahoma City 1

61' | Darko Borisavljevic (6); Assisted by Sebastian Boldt | Science & Arts 2, Oklahoma City 1

69' | Dani Suarez (2); Assisted by Justin Croke | Science & Arts 3, Oklahoma City 1

First Half      

Science & Arts came out firing off shots in the SAC semifinal with two direct shots on goal in the first ten minutes of play. SAC defender of the week Danilo Vilani held his ground by saving each attempt and keeping the Drovers off the board. In the 18th minute, OCU had yet to get a shot off while USAO took advantage and claimed the first goal of the night off the foot of Matija Malenovic to make it 1-0. David Imbert of OCU took two chances on goal in the final five minutes of the half making it the only two attempts OCU got in the first half which came up empty. 

Second Half  

Oklahoma City came out as the ones firing this time with two early attempts on goal but couldn't cash in. Finally, the Stars made their mark tying the contest 1-1 with a goal from Jordan Da Costain in the 55th minute of play. Into the 61st minute, the Drovers only had a pair of headers which came as their only shot attempts so far, however, Science & Arts broke the tie with a goal from Darko Borisavljevic. Not long after USAO gave them an insurance goal as Dani Suarez netted his second goal of the season to stretch further away from the Stars. Needing to catch back up quickly the Stars struggled to gain much of the possession as Da Costa took the last shot on goal for OCU which came in the 71st minute. The lead was too much for Oklahoma to overcome as USAO clinched a berth in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championship game with a 3-1 victory.  

GAME NOTES  

• The Stars took nine shots with six shots coming on goal while the Drovers shot 18 times having seven of its attempts come on goal. 
• Jordan Da Costa scored his seventh goal of the season as Da Costa sits second on the team in goals scored. 
• Despite allowing three goals Danilo Vilani picked up four saves, three of which came in the first half. 
• For the second straight season and for the third time in the last four years OCU suffered a loss to USAO in the conference tournament.
• USAO evened up the 2023 series as the Stars got the best of the Drovers back on Oct. 3 in a 3-2 victory. 
• Despite the loss, OCU competed in its first semifinal round of the conference tournament since 2015 after pulling off a huge upset over the number two seed John Brown in the quarterfinal round. 

NEXT GAME  

The Oklahoma City men's soccer team will wait and see if they receive a bid to the national tournament beginning on Nov. 16.