Dec. 1, 2008

Story Courtesy of Oklahoma City Sports Information

FRESNO, Calif. – (box score) No. 1 seed Oklahoma City used Stephen Sheffield’s goal in the second overtime to earn a 2-1 victory over the hosts school, No. 16 seed Fresno Pacific (Calif.) on Monday (Dec. 1) at Ramirez Field in the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship.

Sheffield scored the golden goal from inside the penalty box off Alex Gang’s assist at the 102:25 mark in double overtime. The Stars (19-2-1) moved into the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. PST Wednesday (Dec. 3) against the winner of the Concordia (Ore.)-Hastings (Neb.) match.

A senior from Jacksonville, Texas, Sheffield headed a ball over the goal off a cross from Garvey in the 98th minute. Garvey crossed a ball into the keeper as time expired at the end of the first overtime. The Stars missed an opportunity inside the final minute of regulation when Luke Garvey crossed the ball to Sheffield, who ended up offsides.

OCU got on the scoreboard at the 52nd-minute mark. Taylor Nittler launched the ball from 40 yards out towards the goal. Scott Jackson completed the Stars’ scoring play, heading the ball into the net.

Fresno Pacific answered with the tying goal at the 70:34 mark. Daniel Spieth headed the ball in off Edison Gonzalez’s assist.

OCU had a free kick just outside the penalty box in the 89th minute. John Dill knocked the ball over the goal on the kick. Alex Gang of OCU fired a ball that goalkeeper Brandon Cave turned away in the 82nd minute.

OCU keeper Andy Fitzpatrick stopped Javier Ceballos’ shot off a free kick in the 87th minute. In the 28th minute, OCU’s Andy Taylor pounded the ball over the goal on a header. John Dill launched the ball Taylor’s direction on a corner kick. Hilton also came close in the 60th minute, sending a ball off the crossbar.

Fresno Pacific came up empty on a close-in attempt in the 35th minute. Ceballos headed a ball that Fitzpatrick rejected. Fresno Pacific misfired in the 51st minute as Lou Brachev Saelee slid the ball across and in front of the goal.

Gabriel Ramirez of Fresno Pacific missed from inside the penalty box in the 62nd minute.

The match was played under a fog and 49-degree temperatures.

For more information on the 2008 National Championship, click here.