Warriors face no. 5 OKWU on the road through weather delays

Oklahoma Wesleyan University, ranked no. 5 in the NAIA, beat Sterling College with a decisive 7-0 victory in Bartlesville, Okla. The game began on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and was suspended due to weather that evening and resumed Monday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m.

The Eagles' offense fired 37 shots, with 24 on goal, while their defense held the Warriors to just six shots, including one on target. The Eagles surged in the second half, scoring five times to secure the win.

The first half commenced with Sterling focusing on defensive resilience, highlighted by Cassidy Kelly's crucial saves against the Eagles' early attempts, notably at 7:30 and later at 38:04. Despite Sterling's efforts, including a high shot by Floyd Ransom at 4:44 and corner kicks by Jonathan Torres, OKWU broke the deadlock with a goal in the 24th minute by Alejandro Aleman Lop. As the half progressed, Adrian Mejia extended the Eagles' lead with a goal at 40:27, resulting in a 2-0 advantage for the home team by the end of the half.

The second half began with Sterling's goalkeeper Kelly showcasing strong defensive skills, recording several saves against the Eagles' persistent attacks, including a key save at the 50:37 mark. Despite Sterling's efforts, including another corner kick by Torres in the 57th minute and a shot by Jose Pacheco in the 60th minute, OKWU found the net multiple times, beginning with Luka Djurovic's goal in the 76th minute. The Eagles capitalized on their momentum, adding four more goals before the end of the half, concluding with a 7-0 victory over Sterling.

Kelly recorded a notable 16 saves in the match, facing 24 shots on goal. Pacheco managed to get a shot on goal, contributing to the team's attacking efforts. Medupe Sithole and Alejandro Cano each took a shot, aiming to find the back of the net.

Sterling moves to 2-3-1 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The Warriors will be back in action in Wednesday, Sept. 24 as they take on McPherson College (2-4-1, 0-1-1) at 4 p.m. in Sterling, Kan.

Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors' live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.