SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – An intense, rivalry game in the Cascade Conference Tournament semifinals lived up to its billing, but Oregon Tech's upset bid against No. 20-ranked and top-seed Southern Oregon came up short, as the Raiders used two second half goals to top the Hustlin' Owls, 4-2, at Les Schwab Sports Park.
SOU (18-2) forward Adrian Villegas scored his second goal of the match in the 69th minute to break a tie, with the Raiders adding an important insurance goal late in the match on a penalty kick – clinching their spot in the CCC title match Friday against College of Idaho.
The Owls (11-5-3) struck early, as
Cooper Hunt headed home a
Dylan Nakagawa corner kick just seven minutes into the match – giving Tech a 1-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived, as the Raiders became the first team to erase a Tech lead this season – as Villegas scored off a cross from Alex Hjulmand in the 16th minute to even the match.
Southern took the lead in the 22nd minute, as Alan Gaytan scored on a 30-yard free kick – but watched the Owls regain momentum.
Andrew Pasang nearly tied it a minute later, as his shot was cleared off the goal line by the Raiders defense, but Tech got the equalizer in the 27th, as
Brock Rideout headed home a Nakagawa corner.
Both teams had chances in the second half – but OIT keeper
Ryan Solis and SOU keeper Casey Ruvolo each made key saves – until the Villegas goal off a thru-ball from Josue Reyes gave the Raiders the lead for good.
After an even first half, SOU held a 13-2 edge in second half shots – finishing with a 20-9 overall shot advantage. The two sides combined for 46 fouls and 11 cautions in the physical contest.
