Memphis, Tenn.-Junior striker Thomas Mills provided the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute to lift the men's soccer team past Fontbonne University 2-1 Saturday in the Volgas Memorial Tournament.
The Eagles (1-0-1) found the back of the net in the 78th minute when Sean Garcia posted his first goal in an Ozarks' uniform. Fontbonne (0-1-0) would tie the match in the 79th minute. But Mills answered with the game-winner by connecting on a penalty kick with just eight minutes left to play. Ozarks created a pair of shots in the first half, while holding Fontbonne to no shot attempts. The Eagles did generate five corner kicks in the first half. On the attack in the second half, Ozarks posted six shots. Mena and Cory Jones ended the match with two shots each.
"This was a tremendous effort from the whole team," said head coach Matt Torok. "We competed against a really physical, big and tough Fontbonne side and played some great attacking soccer through the midfield all match with Stewart Mena, Bryan Lemus, Cory Jones, Layne Garcia and Rondney Lo. Sean Garcia got loose on top of the box and finished a ball from about 20 yards out for his first collegiate goal. We then had a mental lapse and became complacent with ourselves taking the lead. Fontbonne is a good team and capitalized on our breakdown to score a goal. However, we eventually fought and competed well and put ourselves into some really dangerous positions to score some goals and found ourselves with a penalty kick. Thomas confidently stepped up and put it home for the game winner."
Goalkeeper Austin Benner recorded two saves.
Ozarks will play Rhodes College tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.
"We fought hard and it's nice to get some goals for our first victory of 2015," said Torok. "This was a good team effort, but we will have to turn around and repeat it all again against a solid Rhodes team tomorrow."
