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In Defeat, Roughnecks Show Their Progression

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/09/17, 9:05AM EDT

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Late chances went astray in 2-1 loss to Republic FC


Photo courtesy Lori Scholl / Tulsa Roughnecks FC

TULSA, Okla. – As the seconds ticked away, Tulsa Roughnecks FC players flooding into Sacramento Republic FC’s penalty area, it seemed that one final chance to earn something from Saturday night’s game would arrive.

In the third minute of stoppage time, it did, only for Cristian Mata’s shot from 10 yards to go agonizingly wide of the left post. The Tulsa native hunched down, head in hands, as the fans behind the goal howled in disappointment.

As close as his side had come in what ended as a 2-1 victory for Republic FC at ONEOK Field, though, Roughnecks Head Coach David Vaudreuil believed the better team overall on the night took the spoils.

“Obviously, we have good character and good attitude,” Vaudreuil said. “It was good that we went and threw the kitchen sink and them and had three or four chances, one or two really good chances, I think we hit them in the head with one and Mata barely missed with a nice open shot in close, but in general I think they were the better team tonight.”

Sacramento (3-0-0, 9pts) had taken control of an open game in the final 15 minutes of the first half as it began to pin Tulsa further back in its half. With former Roughnecks forward Sammy Ochoa leading the way, Republic FC took the lead early in the second half, the Mexican forward setting up Wilson Kneeshaw for his second goal in as many games.

Soon after it was 2-0 for the visitors as Ochoa’s powerful shot from the right side of the penalty area could only be parried by Roughnecks goalkeeper Bryan Byars, allowing Tyler Blackwood to tap home the rebound.

“We went in at halftime and talked about some things, and we came out and gave the ball away right away and we were back in our own end defending again,” said Vaudreuil. “They were better than us in those key parts of the game. I think about 60, 70 minutes of the game they were better than us, we had some very good short stretches where you saw us play really  good soccer, good combinations and real dangerous, but we didn’t put it together long enough.”

The final 20 minutes of the game saw the Roughnecks (1-2-0, 3pts) launch a resurgence, however, and the side was given hope with 10 minutes to go. After a corner from the right was partially cleared, Brady Ballew curled a beautiful shot that came back off the right upright. The rebound fell to Joey Calistri, who made no mistake with his finish into the left side of the net.

From there it was all hands to the pump for both teams as Sacramento tried to withstand Tulsa’s late pressure. Jorge Corrales went close with a volleyed finish that went just over the crossbar for the hosts, but when Mata missed his chance, Republic FC sealed the three points.

As disappointing as the defeat will have felt, the Roughnecks start to the season should be turning heads. While the side isn’t quite where Vaudreuil wants it, the turnaround within the club has been evident. With two weeks until it next takes the field against Rio Grande Valley FC on April 22 at H-E-B Park, putting the final pieces together is at the front of Vaudreuil’s mind.


Photo courtesy Lori Scholl / Tulsa Roughnecks FC

“The most important thing is team fitness. We have these two weeks and we absolutely have to get over the hump,” he said. “We’ve had three really good, hard games where we’ve played hard for 90 minutes and now we have two weeks to focus on how do we continue to impose our will on the other team for 90 minutes, not just for 15 minutes, or 30 minutes, or 45 minutes or 50 minutes?

“You saw the first 20 minutes, every time we pressed the ball we won it, but we weren’t able to keep that up. We have two weeks to really go in there, and I think it should be a team that should be at 100 percent fitness for RGV.”

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