TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa Roughnecks FC rallied from an early two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy II in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 at ONEOK Field on Friday night. The Galaxy II (5-2-8, 23 pts) didn’t take long to take the lead as Jeffrey Payeras headed home a corner in the third minute, and 20 minutes later Jack McBean recorded his Usl-leading 12th goal of the season when his free kick found a way past the defensive wall and in from 20 yards. Tulsa (2-9-2, 8pts) pulled a goal back just before halftime when Sammy Ochoa converted a penalty kick after being felled in the area, and then leveled two minutes into the second half on an own goal from a corner. The Galaxy II almost regained the lead with five minutes to go as Hugo Arellano had a header cleared off the line, and McBean flashed a late free kick over the crossbar, but the game ended all square. 

Scoring:
3’ – LA – Jeffrey Payeras (Josh Turnley)
23’ – LA – Jack McBean
42’ – TUL – Sammy Ochoa (PK)
47’ – TUL – Own Goal (Sneddon)

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Following last weekend’s drubbing by Saint Louis FC, Friday night was going to be a big test of Tulsa’s mentality. It became an even bigger test when the side went down by two goals early on two goals where the Roughnecks’ defense again failed to impress, but the side responded in strong fashion led by captain Sammy Ochoa. Was there some luck involved? Sure, the own goal was a fluke, but the Roughnecks did enough to justify it in the other chances they carved out before and after.

• 2. One of the reasons the Galaxy II lead the league in draws this season has been their issues with holding onto leads. This proved true again on Friday night, when Los Dos was in complete control up 2-0 with less than 25 minutes gone, only to see that lead evaporate within five minutes of the second half kickoff. Some of this can be attributed to the youth of the team, but you’d expect Galaxy II Curt Onalfo will be demanding better, and soon.

• 3. For the Roughnecks, this result could be seen as a positive point against one of the teams near the top of the Western Conference standings, but if there’s anything the side should take away from the contest is that it must start games more strongly than it has of late. The energy and creativity Tulsa showed in the final hour of the game was good, but it wasn’t good enough to get all three points as the Roughnecks were already having to dig their way out of a hole of their own making.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Sammy Ochoa, Tulsa Roughnecks FC – Ochoa converted from the spot for his seventh goal of the season to get the Roughnecks back into the game, and drew attention that opened space for others as the Roughnecks played far better in the second half.

Upcoming Games:

Tulsa Roughnecks FC at LA Galaxy II – June 24, 10:30 p.m. ET, StubHub Center

LA Galaxy II vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC – June 24, 10:30 p.m. ET, ONEOK Field