Oakland scored its eventual game-winning goal off a penalty kick in the 35th minute in Saturday’s Horizon League title game to defeat Wright State 2-1, ending the Raiders’ hopes to bring home their first league title.
Oakland’s penalty kick was awarded after WSU defender Emeka Ononye was called for a yellow card in the box. After WSU protested the call, Gerald Ben flicked the ball to the left of WSU goalkeeper Tyler Blackmer who dove the other direction. The 35th-minute goal gave the Golden Grizzlies a 2-0 lead.
Oakland got off to a 1-0 start in the fifth minute off a free kick.
Wright State cut Oakland’s lead to 2-1 in the 73rd minute when Jake Stovall’s throw-in found the box, went off Sam DeRoy and to a wide-open Marquis Payton who put the ball behind Oakland goalkeeper Wes Mink.
“We responded pretty well,” WSU head coach Bryan Davis said. “Chasing the game down two goals is hard. The guys gave it all they have and I am proud of that but we had to be tougher. I think at the end of the day, we left too many minutes on the field. We just weren’t able to match what they were bringing.”
WSU tried to rally in the final 17 minutes down a goal. Eric Lynch and Payton had attempts that just missed the net. After time expired, the crowd stormed the field at Oakland Soccer Field as the Grizzlies advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Wright State’s season ended with a 12-7-2 record. This was the program’s winningest season since 2001 and just the second time the program has reached the Horizon League title game.
“We put ourselves in a championship game, we were still in it after a controversial call where it makes a different in the outcome, I think it has been an outstanding year,” Davis said. “These guys should be commended.”
The last time the Raiders went to the title game was in 2011, when this year’s seniors were just freshmen.
While Wright State loses eight seniors, one advantage the Raiders had this year was their depth. WSU returns Lynch who earned the Horizon League’s Player of the Year honors along with Peguy Ngatcha who was one of the league’s leading goal scorers. Wright State loses starters Ononye, Joakim Carlsson, Michael Hayes and Bryce Rockwell-Ashton.
“Our future is bright at Wright State,” Davis said. “Our seniors in their four years completely changed the program.”
