Oakland University Athletics

Rochester, Mich. - Oakland's stellar season has come to an end, after a heart-breaking championship loss to Green Bay.

The game was a long, grind-it-out battle, where taking advantage of scoring chances was essential. Green Bay controlled possession for the initial portion of the game, and it hurt Oakland early. In the 24' minute, the Phoenix struck first as their offensive leader, Chris Album, located an airborne ball and headed it past Oakland's Finn Jurak for the goal.

The Golden Grizzlies had a few opportunities to even the score, their first quality look, and maybe best chance to score, came in the 42' minute where Ville Ahola fed a long ball past the Green Bay defense where Jace Foster was streaking towards the goal. Just one-on-one with the Phoenix keeper, Tobias Jahn showed why he was the Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year, as he made an incredible save to stop Foster's scoring attempt. Oakland's senior scoring machine, Owen Smith, was near by to take the rebound and send it on goal, but Jahn made another save, maintaining Green Bay's 1-0 lead headed into halftime.

The Golden Grizzlies came out of halftime and showed the urgency needed to make a comeback. Attacking relentlessly, connecting on passes and sets, and creating ten corner kicks total in the game. They gained two quality looks from Freshman Donavan Phillip and Micah Sonnenberg in the 51' and 61' minutes out the half. Smith sent great crosses above the field, but neither shot from the Oakland players were able to find the net.

With Green Bay in defensive mode, playing to protect their lead and not expand it, Oakland pressed and tried all the strategies they could to find the back of the net. 
Oakland received a somewhat unlikely spark from senior Sebastian Nuzzo. He was one of the few Golden Grizzlies that were present for their last Horizon League title in 2021. Despite not having appeared in any previous games this year, Nuzzo showed that he stayed ready for the moment and gave a winning effort like he has done for four years as he subbed in for Phillip, who appeared to turn an ankle in the 51' minute.

Nuzzo created a very high-percentage look for Oakland in the 66' minute, deflecting a cross at the Green Bay goal, where the ball sailed slightly left of the goal.

With Phillip back in the game and desperate to score, Oakland had one final chance to even the score. They set up a corner kick with just 20 seconds left, but it sailed over the heads of the Golden Grizzlies, running out the clock and extinguishing their championship hopes.

"It was a tough, gritty game. They (Green Bay) had a nice finish on their goal and we were battling uphill the rest of the time," said Oakland Head Coach Eric Pogue after the game. "I'm really appreciative of our guys and our seniors, showing the work they've put in for this program over 4-5 years. It's bitter-sweet right now, but they're who I'm thinking about right now because they won't get another opportunity".

Oakland performed sensationally during the tournament, honoring freshman Carson Ballagh, sophomore Marco Mazzei, and senior Owen Smith to the All-Tournament Team. Smith scored Oakland's only goal of the tournament against Purdue Fort Wayne, while Ballagh and Mazzei both showed top tier skills and abi;ity throughout the two game stretch.

You could see the emotion of all the Oakland players on the sideline after the game, finishing just minutes away from their storybook ending. The entire team wore their hearts on their sleeves, and showed why Oakland was among the best teams in the league all season, and will return with a vengeance next season.



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