LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The Oklahoma Wesleyan University men's soccer team battled through 90 minutes of hard-fought Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) action Wednesday evening, earning a 0-0 draw against the University of Saint Mary Spires. Despite creating several quality scoring opportunities and applying consistent pressure in the attacking third, the Eagles were unable to find the breakthrough goal in a tightly contested defensive battle.

Oklahoma Wesleyan opened the match looking to establish its offensive rhythm, working the ball through the midfield and creating opportunities in the final third. The Eagles registered five shots in the opening 45 minutes, placing four attempts on frame. Saint Mary's defensive unit held firm, however, keeping OKWU off the scoresheet as both teams entered halftime deadlocked at 0-0.

The intensity increased following the halftime break, with both sides pushing forward in search of the go-ahead goal. Oklahoma Wesleyan elevated its attacking pressure, recording nine second-half shots, including six on target. The Eagles continued to challenge the Spires' back line with movement off the ball and attacking combinations, but Saint Mary goalkeeper Xavier Ezell turned away each scoring opportunity.

Nasreddine Benbella helped lead the Oklahoma Wesleyan attack, registering three shots, all on goal. Eguzki Hashimoto added three attempts, placing two on frame, while Mateja Bozic contributed three shots of his own. Ronardo Burgher also remained active in the attacking third, recording two shots as the Eagles searched for the decisive finish.

Defensively, Oklahoma Wesleyan delivered another disciplined performance, remaining organized across the back line despite increased pressure from the Spires in the second half. Saint Mary recorded 12 shots after the break, forcing the Eagles to remain composed and execute timely defensive recoveries.

Goalkeeper Marko Rodic anchored the defensive effort, playing all 90 minutes between the posts and helping preserve the clean sheet. His presence in goal, combined with the defensive work of Colon Valeriano, Santiago Mejia, and Andrewss Angulo, proved instrumental in keeping Saint Mary off the scoreboard.

The Eagles finished the contest with 14 total shots, including 10 on goal, while Saint Mary registered 15 attempts with nine on target. Oklahoma Wesleyan also held a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks, reflecting the competitive nature of the conference matchup.

Despite being unable to convert their opportunities in front of goal, the Eagles demonstrated resilience and defensive discipline to secure another point in the KCAC standings.

With the draw, Oklahoma Wesleyan moves to 9-1-3 overall and 7-1-2 in conference play, continuing its push through the latter stages of the regular season. The Eagles will look to sharpen their finishing in the final third while building on another strong defensive performance as conference competition continues.