A Game for the Ages! Offense Shines as USAO and Columbia Play to a 5-5 Draw

CHICKASHA, Okla. – Saturday night, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (3-1-3, 0-0 SAC) played their way to an exhilarating 5-5 tie against Columbia College (2-2-2, 0-0 AMC). The 10-goal contest will go down as one of the wildest games in program history, a truly excellent display of toughness, skill, and determination. 

In the opening minutes, the Drovers played lock-down defense and hardly allowed the Cougars to possess the ball passed midfield. Thato Lekgetho scored the first two goals of the game to give USAO an early advantage. Lekgetho's first goal came in the 14^th minutes, assisted by Harry Yorke, followed by another strike in the 20^th minute, set up by Richard Ebongue Bollanga. The Cougars managed to cut their deficit in half with a goal in the 38^th minute. USAO would remain in control of the final minutes of the half and took a 2-1 lead into the break. 

Following halftime, seven more goals were scored before the final horn. USAO quickly extended the lead to 3-1 in the 49^th minute as Fernando Espinal scored his second goal of the season, assisted by Thato Lekgetho. However, the Cougars would go on to score three unanswered goals over the next 20 minutes of action and held a 4-3 lead. 

The Drovers pulled the score even in the 80^th minute as Harry Yorke scored his first of the year, off an assist from Juan Pablo Penagos.

Columbia reclaimed the lead in the 83^rd minute on one of the most bizarre goals you'd ever see. Down, but not out, USAO once again retaliated with the equalizer in the 86^th minute as Callum Scott headed in a beautiful pass from Fernando Espinal. 

As a team, USAO attempted a total of 14 shots, with eight being on goal, while Columbia attempted 14 shots, nine of which were on target. The Cougars were whistled for only 10 fouls, while the Drovers committed 16 infractions. Furthermore, the physical contest featured six yellow cards, four issued to USAO and two to Columbia. CC had two corner-kicks, in comparison to USAO's five attempts out of the offensive corners. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Drovers will now head north for their final non-conference showdown of the regular season at No. 9 ranked Bellevue University. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM CT in Bellevue, Neb.

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