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USL FC Tulsa

Roughnecks Top ORU 3-1

February 27, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


The Tulsa Roughnecks FC made a short cross-town drive on Tuesday evening to face Oral Roberts University in its third preseason match to prepare for the 2018 USL regular season. Substitute Riggs Lennon was the hero of the night, scoring a pair of second-half goals to give the Roughnecks 3-1 win over the NCAA Division I side. 

Tulsa had control of the match in the opening minutes, but the Golden Eagles struck first. In the 23rd minute, TRFC had a miscue in its back line that left Cerda with little chance to stop a chip shot that put ORU on top 1-0.

The lead did not last long. Five minutes later, defender Enrique Montano beat the ORU keeper from distance to even things up at 1-1.

After opening the second half with the same starting 11, the Roughnecks continued to control the match. In the 56th minute, forward Fernando Arce just missed with the net with a bending, left-footed shot that sailed just high of the goal.

In the 65th minute, TRFC Head Coach David Vaudreuil made several changes to his team, including bringing on Lennon. Playing in an up-front position, it took him only four minutes to have an impact as he slid a shot under the ORU keeper in the 60th minute to give the Roughnecks the lead.

Midfielder Eti Tavares in action at ORU

(Photo by Rich Crimi

Lennon took advantage of a miscue from the Golden Eagles to strike again just seconds later to seal his brace and the win for the Roughnecks.

Vaudreuil was pleased with the effort he saw.

"It's been a real tough week with the weather and the cancellation of last Saturday's match," he said. "Even though we were missing a couple of guys, it was really the first time that we could see how we look tactically on the field. It was the first time we could play together on a big field and start to build relationships."

"We are really thankful to ORU for working with the bad weather and finding a new venue at the last minute," he said. "We got guys 65 minutes, and it was a workout we really needed after a week of rainouts."

   

The result keeps TRFC unbeaten in the preseason with a 2-0-1 record. 

The game was the first of two matches for the Roughnecks this week, and the competition will get tougher. On Saturday, TRFC will travel to Chicago to face its parent MLS club, the Chicago Fire. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Toyota Park.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from February 27, 2018


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