Men's Soccer Falls to Friends in OT

McPHERSON, Kan. --- Leonardo Sosa Perez scored a pair of goals, including the overtime game-winner, to push Friends University to a 3-2 overtime win over McPherson College on Saturday afternoon at The Kennel.

A quick start following a foul just outside the 18-yard box as the clock ticked toward the one-minute mark of the first overtime gave Sosa Perez just the sliver of an opportunity he needed to beat Bulldog goalkeeper Aaron Parrott (Wichita, Kan.).

Sosa Perez opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when he beat Parrott on an penalty kick after McPherson's Kaonnye Opazo (Lancaster, Calif.) was called for a foul inside the box. The Falcons outshot the Bulldogs, 10-2, in the first half, but no other shots found their way past Parrott and Friends took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.

McPherson knotted the score just 1:57 into the second half as Jesus Pescador (Valencia, Calif.) took a cross from Christopher Kelly (Glasgow, Scotland) and beat Falcons keeper Florian Dupuis for the equalizer.

James Togbah gave Friends the lead back in the 60th minute with an unassisted goal, but the lead would be short-lived as Brayam De La Cruz (Bellevue, Idaho) scored off another Kelly service less than two minutes later.

Sosa Perez had an opportunity to give the Falcons the lead in the 86th minute after McPherson was called for a handball in the box, but that penalty-kick attempt was knocked clear of goal by a diving Parrott and the teams took a 2-2 score into overtime.

Each side had opportunities in the extra session prior to the PK with another shot by Sosa Perez being punched away by Parrott and Pescador being denied by Dupuis.

The Falcons (7-3-1, 3-1 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) outshot the Bulldogs (7-3-1, 2-2 KCAC), 21-8, overall and 9-5 in shots on goal. Aided by seven in the first half, Friends also had a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Both teams were aggressive on offense with the sides being called for offsides a combined 10 times, including six for the Bulldogs.

Pescador accounted for four of McPherson's eight shots, including three of five shots on goal. Brian Cano (Bakersfield, Calif.), Sean Morris (Cambridge, England), Nick Torres (McPherson, Kan.) and De La Cruz had one shot each.

Sosa Perez matched the entire McPherson team with eight shots and five on goal. Marcos Recio Blanco added six shots, while James Togbah and Teylor Cubero had two apiece.

Dupuis earned the victory in goal, stopping three shots in 98:57. Parrott was credited with six saves for McPherson.

"We almost won a game playing, by far, our poorest offensive soccer of the year," said head coach Doug Quint. "In addition, we weren't disciplined enough defensively which gave Friends too many set-piece opportunities. It's tough to win a game when you beat yourself. We need to learn from this and move on."  

The Bulldogs return to the pitch Wednesday evening when they travel to North Newton to face Bethel College (2-8, 1-3 KCAC) at Thresher Stadium.