RAMS WIN IN THRILLER
September 5, 2009

FORT WORTH, TX:  Saturday night, on head coach Josh Gibbs’ birthday, the Texas Wesleyan University men’s soccer team (3-0) took a 2-1 win over Oklahoma Baptist University (2-1) at Martin Field.

Although the game was marred by 13 cards, including eight yellow and two red cards in the second half, the players would provide a thrilling finish to a hotly contested match.

Oklahoma Baptists’ Jacon Hibbard needed four saves, while Texas Wesleyan’s Toby Rochau made one save to keep the game scoreless through the first period.

The Bison came out firing in the second half.  Rochau made five stops in the first ten minutes of the second half including three spectacular saves in a 62 second span.

In the 60th minute, Hibbard was given a red card, and Texas Wesleyan gained a man advantage.

In the 81st minute Marcus Harris fed Theo Nabassi in front of the net for his second goal of the season to break the scoreless deadlock.  Three minutes later, Yalli Oliveira scored on a rebound in front of the net to tie the game once again.

The Rams lost their man advantage in the 85th minute when Adis Druzanovic was given a red card.  However, a minute and nine seconds later, the Rams’ Kevin Rauch blasted a free kick from 35 yards out that found the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

For the game, Oklahoma Baptist out shot Texas Wesleyan 18-16, but the Rams held a 9-7 advantage in shots on goal.

Rochau made six saves in the win.  Hibbard and Arturo Diaz combined to make seven saves for the Bison.

“What a way to spend a birthday,” Gibbs commented.  “I thought this was a heavyweight fight.  These were two very good teams going at it tonight.  All three goals were special moments, and that was a world class finish from Kevin Rauch.  At half time we told the team ‘you can either think that you are good, or you can believe that you are good and go and win this game.’ It looks like they believe it.”

The Rams will have little time to rest after a hard fought game.  They will host Schreiner University at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.