Oakland blanks IUPUI to clinch Summit League tournament spot

ROCHESTER – John Timm scored the match-winner, as a pair of second-half goals propelled the Oakland men’s soccer team to a 2-0 win over IUPUI on Saturday at the OU Soccer Field. With the victory on Senior Night, the Golden Grizzlies claimed the final spot in The Summit League Championship.

“The effort tonight epitomizes the word team,” said Oakland head coach Eric Pogue. “We can’t single anyone out in particular. Our seniors played very well. We were solid from front to back and worked hard all over the pitch. Everyone that came in made a difference tonight.”

After a scoreless first half, Timm put Oakland (6-11-1, 3-3-0) ahead with a goal in the 58^th minute. The play started from a Josh Bennett free kick, which fell to Jeff Cheslik inside the six-yard area. With his shooting angle blocked, Cheslik shifted the ball to Timm who poked it through a mass of defenders and into the far corner.

Following the goal, Oakland claimed the ascendancy and doubled the lead in the 64^th minute on a piece of individual skill by Miche’le Lipari. The OU midfielder used a good move to create space on the right side and curled in an inch-perfect shot that hit the inside of the far post and rippled the back of the net.

The Golden Grizzlies were the aggressors for most of the evening and outshot IUPUI 21-12. That included a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. Mitch Hildebrandt had two saves to record his third shutout of the year. Tyler Keever made five saves for IUPUI.

Despite being outshot 11-3 in the first half, IUPUI (6-10-2, 2-3-1) threatened the Oakland goal just four minutes into the match. Galen Cassady headed a ball on goal from a long throw, Hildebrandt got a hand to the ball but the shot was still headed in until John DeLeon intercepted the ball and cleared it off the line.

IUPUI continued to search for a way back into the match and Matt Guy forced a good leg save out of Hildebrandt in the 68^th minute. Ryan Robinson had a scoring opportunity in the 83^rd minute, but hit his shot over the crossbar.

Jake Przybycien led Oakland with seven shots and came close on a pair of opportunities, with one shot going just one and one being cleared off the line just before time ended in the first half.

“We always believed in ourselves,” added Pogue. “We wanted to send our seniors out on the right foot, with this being their last game on our home field this year. We didn’t want to have any excuses or alibis; we wanted to leave it all on the field and that’s what we did. We weren’t content with this being the last game of the season”

Playing the final regular season home match, Oakland honored the senior members, Winston Henderson, Jon Evans, Przybycien, Bennett and Hildebrandt before kickoff. The five seniors will continue their season in search of a third trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The Golden Grizzlies are the No. 4 seed in The Summit League Championship hosted by UMKC and will look to defend the title they won last season. Oakland faces regular-season champion Western Illinois in the semifinals on Friday at 6 p.m. ET in a match that will air live on Fox Soccer Channel (FCS Atlantic).

Tags: college men's soccer, college soccer, IUPUI Men's Soccer, Men's Soccer, Oakland University Men's Soccer, soccer, The Summit League Men's Soccer

Category: Campus Clips, Colleges / Other, Oakland University