SHREVEPORT, La. - Both teams fought to a 1-1 tie after regulation, but a bad deflection off the defender led to the game-winning score in overtime as Centenary (2-7-2) beat LeTourneau (1-5-3) 2-1 in OT in a non-conference rivalry game Tuesday night, October 3.
Junior Seth Fountain had a clearance with about a minute left in the first overtime. He put a shot that deflected off a LeTourneau defender at the top of the box and goes back post to score the game-winner.
Centenary also opened scoring in the sixth minute. Sophomore Gabe Rodriguez served a ball off a corner to classmate Scott Halper. Halper headed a ball off the crossbar and into the goal for his second score of the season. In the 31st minute, freshman Gin Pau tried to put in a ball far post, but the LeTourneau defense knocked the ball away to deny a 2-0 lead for the Gents.
LeTourneau almost tied the game shortly after Centenary's score when Eduardo Barron struck a ball off the crossbar in the 10th and 12th minutes, but the ball bounced outside the goal line and away as the YellowJackets stayed off the board. In the 37th minute, Porfirio Benitez put a centering pass to Alec Weir, who scored his first goal of the season on the first touch to tie the game at one.
Centenary almost broke the tie in the 49th minute, when Rodriguez served a corner near post. However, sophomore Nic Douthit's header went right as the game remained tied at one.
The YellowJackets used a 32-8 advantage in shots and 14-4 in shots on target, but Centenary made the most of its opportunities. In his first start of the season, sophomore Lamarr Meza grabbed 12 saves on 13 shots faced for the Gents. YellowJackets goalie Miguel Cabrera allowed three goals on seven shots faced.
Centenary kicks off the second half of Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play Friday, October 6, when it takes on Texas Lutheran. Game time in Seguin, Texas, is set for 7 p.m.
