Club Soccer suffers loss to OBU
By Justin Combs, Staff Writer
Playing one player short may have contributed to Club Soccer’s 0-3 loss to Oklahoma Baptist University, April 5 at the University of Central Oklahoma campus.
A strong wind blew throughout the game. Club Soccer coach K.B. Yeboah warned his players about the wind affecting their handling of the ball.
Speaking to the team in a pregame pep talk, Yeboah told his players to communicate on the field, take advantage of open shots and not give the other team easy opportunities.
OBU’s offensive tactics came out strong from kickoff.
OBU sprinted toward the net on their first drive, booting the ball towards OCCC goalie Osvaldo Cuvarrubias. He blocked the shot, which ricocheted out of bounds.
OBU scored their first point with a throw-in that was head butted by an OBU player. It sailed past Cuvarrubias into the net.
Club Soccer player Abulizi Yimamuassan got a yellow card after an aggressive slide tackle on an OBU player at mid field close to being out of bounds.
The referee gave Yimamuassan a stern warning that kind of playing would not be tolerated.
The action ignited a few heated words between Yimamuassan and the OBU player.
OBU made another goal in the first half despite Club Soccer guards teaming up around the goal to prevent the point.
The first half ended with OCCC down two goals with none to show their effort. During the half time breather, Yaboah wasn’t timid about letting his players know about his disappointment.
In the second half, Javier Careon defended an OBU goal attempt by head butting the ball away from the goal. He sent it in the air toward OCCC’s end of the field, but no OCCC forwards were in place to capitalize on the opportunity.
OBU’s final goal of the game was scored when an OBU forward dribbled the ball 10 yards from the goal and kicked the ball right past the hands of Cuvarrubias.
Yeboah said plenty of players show up to practice but many of them have to work on the weekends preventing them from making games.
Club Soccer played a make-up game April 4 at Rose State College. They lost 2-3 against the University of Central Oklahoma.
Club Soccer’s next game is set for 1 p.m. April 12, at the University of Central Oklahoma against Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Staff Writer Justin Combs can be reached at StaffWriter2@occc.edu.
