RAMS WIN THRILLER:

NABASSI NETS TWO IN FIRST COLLEGIATE GAME
August 25, 2007

Box Score

FORT WORTH, TX:  Texas Wesleyan’s Theo Nabassi (Fr., Lome, Togo) netted a game-tying and game-winning goal in his first collegiate game to lift his Rams to a thrilling 3-2 win in double overtime over Manhattan Christian College on Saturday.

Although the Rams out shot the Crusaders 11-6 in the first half, Manhattan Christian’s Greg Klass converted his team’s first shot of the season into a 1-0 lead just five minutes into the contest.

The Crusader’s scored quickly to start the second half as well.  Josh Tedder’s goal gave them a 2-0 advantage in the 57th minute.  However, the Rams never gave up.  After they got on the board when Seth Mullins netted a penalty kick, they continued to trail 2-1 with less than two minutes to play.

In the 89th minute, Mullins played a corner kick into the box and Tolbert Nyainda fed Nabassi for the game-tying goal.

On a very hot afternoon, the game remained tied after the first sudden-death overtime.  With 21 seconds remaining in the final period, Mullins played another corner kick into the box.  This time Eddie Hernandez directed the ball to Nabassi who found the net with 15 seconds showing on the clock.

For the game, the Rams out shot the Crusader’s 26-16.  Toby Rochau (1-0) earned his first collegiate win with nine saves in goal for the Rams.

“We were able to win without our best performance today,” commented head coach Josh Gibbs.  “Our guys just never stopped.  It took a while to show it, but we were the better team and we came out on top.”

The Rams return to action on Saturday, September 1, when they host Oklahoma City University.  That game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start and will be preceded by a women’s match.