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USL FC Tulsa

Former TU Keeper Blanks Roughnecks

April 2, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


In their second game of the season, the Tulsa Roughnecks fell to Saint Louis FC 2-0 Thursday night at ONEOK Field, but there were still positives to be found. The Roughnecks had numerous scoring chances in the second half, but former University of Tulsa goalkeeper Mark Pais could not be beaten in the Saint Louis goal. The result left the Roughnecks with a 0-1-1 record and with one point after the two games.

Tulsa will have to wait only 48 hours to try again for its first win of the season. The Roughnecks will host the Austin Aztex (1-1-0) on Saturday evening in downtown Tulsa.

Saint Louis controlled play in the first half hour. Jamiel Hardware hit the post in the 17th minute, and Tulsa keeper Zac Lubin made a pair of saves to keep the game scoreless.

The pressure finally paid off just before halftime. Jermie Lynch, who registered a brace in a 2-1 Saint Louis win in preseason contest at ONEOK Field, was again the nemesis for the Roughnecks. The native of Jamaica opened the scoring with the first goal of the season for Saint Louis in the 42nd minute.

It took only 10 minutes of the second half for the lead to double. Lynch played set up man this time, feeding Bryan Gaul who rolled his shot past Lubin to make it 2-0.

After the goal, head coach David Irving turned to his bench, bringing on a trio of subs that included Oscar Jimenez, Gibson Bardsley and Sammy Ochoa. The changes proved beneficial as the Roughnecks controlled more of the play, but they could not beat Pais.

Shortly after taking the field, Bardsley appeared to put Tulsa on the board with a shot that actually beat Pais, but the Tulsa midfielder was called for a handball that kept the score at 2-0.

A few minutes later another sub, Kidd Nwabueze, dribbled around the Saint Louis keeper, but lost his footing in the penalty area before he could finish the chance.

The opportunities kept coming over the final minutes as Pais turned away shots from Bardsley, Brady Ballew and Ochoa before the final whistle blew.

Midfielder Laurie Bell was named Tulsa's Man of the Match by the Tulsa Roustabouts.

The Roughnecks will look for their first win of the season Saturday night at ONEOK Field when the Austin Aztex come to Tulsa. The Aztex are 1-1-0 (3 pts.) on the year. Kickoff in downtown Tulsa is set for 7:00PM.

Tickets for the match, and all other matches this season, are available online at

TulsaRoughnecksFC.com, over the telephone at (918)744-5901 or in person at the ONEOK Field Ticket Office. A number of season ticket packages are also still available.

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