HESSTON, Kan. – Oklahoma Wesleyan University men's soccer continued its strong run of form Monday evening, securing a commanding 3-1 road victory over Hesston College. Behind a relentless attacking performance and goals from Alejandro Aleman Lopez, Mateja Bozic, and Ognjen Pilic, the Eagles controlled the tempo and capitalized on key scoring opportunities to claim another impressive win.
The Eagles wasted little time establishing their offensive presence, applying pressure in the attacking third and creating several early scoring chances. Oklahoma Wesleyan broke through in the 16th minute when Alejandro Aleman Lopez found the back of the net to give the Eagles a 1-0 advantage. The early breakthrough set the tone for the opening half as OKWU continued to dictate possession and generate opportunities in front of goal.
Oklahoma Wesleyan's attacking unit kept the Hesston backline under constant pressure throughout the first 45 minutes, registering 17 shots while limiting the Larks to just three attempts. The Eagles carried their 1-0 advantage into the halftime break after a dominant opening period.
Coming out of the interval, OKWU wasted no time doubling its lead. In the 49th minute, Mateja Bozic stepped up to the penalty spot and calmly converted his opportunity, extending the Eagles' advantage to 2-0. The successful penalty kick provided Oklahoma Wesleyan with additional breathing room as the match entered its final stages.
Hesston responded in the 64th minute when Alexander Radu found the scoresheet, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and bringing the Larks back within striking distance. Despite the response, Oklahoma Wesleyan remained composed, maintaining its attacking intensity while working to regain control of the match.
The Eagles delivered the decisive blow in the 81st minute when Ognjen Pilic finished an attacking sequence off an assist from Aleman Lopez, restoring the two-goal cushion and putting the match out of reach. The insurance goal capped off a productive evening for Aleman Lopez, who finished with a goal and an assist to lead the Eagles' offensive effort.
Oklahoma Wesleyan's dominance was reflected in the final statistics, as the Eagles outshot Hesston 31-12, including a commanding 15-4 advantage in shots on goal. OKWU also earned eight corner kicks compared to Hesston's four, demonstrating its ability to consistently push forward and create dangerous opportunities in the final third.
Bozic paced the Eagles with five shot attempts, while Ronardo Burgher recorded four shots, all on target. Between the posts, Marko Rodic played the full 90 minutes and registered three saves, helping preserve the road victory. Hesston goalkeeper Harry Morris recorded 10 saves as he faced consistent pressure from the Oklahoma Wesleyan attack.
With the victory, Oklahoma Wesleyan improves to 11-1-3 overall, continuing to build momentum through the latter portion of the regular season. The Eagles' ability to control possession, generate quality scoring chances, and respond to adversity highlighted another well-rounded performance on the road.
Oklahoma Wesleyan will look to carry that momentum into its upcoming fixtures as the Eagles continue their push toward postseason play.
