ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland Men's Soccer team earns a dominant win in the Horizon League semi-final game against the Green Bay Phoenix to advance to the Final on Saturday at 1 p.m.
In the first of two Horizon League semi-final matches, the Golden Grizzlies got underway on a rainy mid-day match-up against the Phoenix.
In their last meeting, the Golden Grizzlies came out on top 1-0 at home.
Jayden Pinheiro scored the lone goal during that match, assisted by
Carson Ballagh. Today's win marks the fifth straight win against Green Bay.
The Golden Grizzlies got started early with a corner kick awarded in the third minute.
Carson Ballagh delivered a service to
Malik Sylvester who scored with a header to the back post to put the squad up. This goal is Sylvester's first of the season and
Carson Ballagh's sixth assist.
The Phoenix kept knocking on the door with seven corners and six shots on goal in the first half alone.
Alex Flowers knotted six saves in the first half alone, with a huge save from Green Bay's Andrew Paolucci who delivered a scorching line drive shot from just outside the box.
Jace Foster came close to putting the Golden Grizzlies up 2-0, with the play beginning with a foul in Oakland's defensive half. Foster took a shot with space on the right half of the field outside the box, but just missed high over the crossbar.
Noah Roka forced a corner in the 27th minute, with
Carson Ballagh taking it for Oakland. With a beatiful service into the box, the Phoenix stood tall to fight off the Golden Grizzlies relentless fight.
At the end of the first half, the Golden Grizzlies led 1-0 from their lone goal coming in the third minute of play from
Malik Sylvester courtesy of
Carson Ballagh.
In the 59th minute, Oakland struck again with a goal from
Andrew Darakdjian assisted by Abdul Rashed to put the score at 2-0. Abdul Rashed took it down the left side with a beautiful pass past the last Phoenix defender where
Andrew Darakdjian was left one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Darakdjian put it in the top right corner for the second of the semi-final.
Throughout the second half, the Golden Grizzlies kept fending off numerous corner kicks and offensive attacks in the defensive half. Their defensive showcase throughout the game helped fend off the Phoenix offensive attack in a consistent push from So Nishikawa and Andrew Paolucci.
As a team, the Golden Grizzlies tallied 15 shots, with six of them being on goal. The Golden Grizzlies made the most out of their opportunities, being out shot 26-15.
Alex Flowers finished the game with 11 saves, a season-high and league-high so far this season. He also faced a season high 26 shots during this match-up.
The Golden Grizzlies will face the winner of the second semi-final match, Milwaukee versus Robert Morris, in the Horizon League Tournament Championship Match on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Oakland Soccer Field.
