OKC Energy U23s

2018 US Open Cup Round 1: Leo Sosa’s brace, including 40-yard bomb, leads FC Wichita past OKC Energy U23s

May 14, 2018 by Matt Will

In a First Round matchup in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Oklahoma City Energy U-23s were set to travel to Wichita, Kan. to take on FC Wichita in a Wednesday night contest. FC Wichita had qualified for the last three US Open Cups, spanning all three years of the team’s existence and for the second year in a row they advanced in their opening round game, beating the Energy U-23s, 3-1.

Leo Sosa led the way with a pair of goals to earn Wichita a trip to Oklahoma to take on the Tulsa Roughnecks of the USL in Round 2 next week.

The opening 30 minutes were scoreless but eventful. FC Wichita had a couple opportunities including two corner kicks. These minutes were somewhat clean, with only a few fouls and no cards. It was not until the 36th minute that the tie was broken up. FC Wichita’s Leo Sosa, a midfielder, broke through the OKC Energy U-23s back line, beating the keeper with a hard shot.

Before the crowd could even settle, FC Wichita added another goal from Sosa, this time a strong strike from 40 yards out in the 38th minute.

“I’m a guy who’s always ready, my blood is always pumping,” Sosa said. “I just want to go, more and more.”

Other than a couple minute stoppage to assist two player who smacked heads together, the remainder of the first half had little opportunities, keeping it a 2-0 contest heading into the break.

The second half began with fury, as Energy U-23s midfielder Louis Bennett had a couple hard, yet clean, tackles to apply pressure to a now confident FC Wichita squad. The first card of the game was awarded in the 64th minute to FC Wichita midfielder Eddie Gomez and minutes later, OKC Energy was awarded their first yellow card, this one to forward Josh Garcia.

It was not until the 78th minute that OKC Energy U-23 had their first real opportunity of the game. FC Wichita goalkeeper Steve Hamersky misplayed a ball, picking it up just outside the goalie box, giving OKC Energy a great free kick chance, just 20-yards out. A strong strike from Garcia ended Hamersky’s clean sheet, moving the game to 2-1. Not even 30 seconds later, FC Wichita midfielder Taylor Henry was awarded a yellow card on a late tackle.

In the 84th minute, OKC Energy subbed an extra attacker in for a defensive man to attempt to score an equalizing goal. The result was flipped as FC Wichita’s left forward Ben Andoh found the back of the net on a cross by FC Wichita striker Franck Tayou in the five-minute stoppage time at the end of the half. The 3-1 score would hold true to the end, giving FC Wichita a win, their second win in a US Open Cup game.

“Winning a US game, it has a special feeling,” Gonzalo Carranza, a member of the FC Wichita coaching staff said. “We know we need to continue to step our game up, and we will make sure we do that.”

FC Wichita owned the shots category tonight, taking 18 shots to OKC Energy U-23’s 13. FC Wichita has three corner kicks to OKC Energy U-23’s one. Hamersky recorded 10 saves for FC Wichita and goalkeeper Cooper Clark stopped 13 stops for OKC Energy U-23. FC Wichita was called offsides seven times to OKC Energy U-23’s 5.
FC Wichita advances to the second round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the second straight year. They will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma to play the Tulsa Roughnecks on May 16. The Roughnecks received a first-round bye to automatically advance to the second round. That game kicks off at Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kick off has not been announced.

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Kondrakhin’s brace helps Tulsa Roughnecks cruise past OKC Energy U-23s

May 21, 2017 by William Schulz

The Tulsa Roughnecks of the United Soccer League took a commanding lead in the first half and took care of business at home the rest of the way with a 5-3 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup win over the Oklahoma City Energy U23s on Wednesday night.

Pavel Kondrakhin scored twice for the Roughnecks in the victory.

The University of Tulsa found itself host to the US Open Cup for the second time in as many weeks for OKC Energy U23s vs. Tulsa at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Complex. Both teams came into the match fresh off of weekend victories.

Oklahoma City began the first half unafraid of the Roughnecks, and both sides came out swinging. All that changed when Jaime Ayala scored the opener in the 8th minute. From that point on, Tulsa sat firmly in the driver’s seat, doubling their lead within five minutes thanks to Christian Mata.

Oklahoma City found themselves without meaningful possession for long periods during the rest of the first half, only managing to break into the final third on breakaway counters that came to nothing. Tulsa scored a third in stoppage time thanks to a lovely one-two play from Christian Mata finished by Kondrakhin.

The second half started in much the same way the first had, with both teams playing aggressively and openly culminating in a Roughnecks goal for Kondrakhin. This time, however, the Energy came charging back with a vengeance. Suddenly Oklahoma City had the lion’s share of possession and the better of the scoring chances. The Energy finally got on the scoreboard thanks to Mark Lindstrom, and they kept the pressure high.

Within the next 15 minutes, Oklahoma City managed to force an own goal and score again via Christian Okeke. The match also turned physical during this stretch, with four yellow cards shown between the two clubs.

In the end, Tulsa held on to emerge victorious by a score of 5 to 3. The Tulsa Roughnecks will go on to host San Antonio FC on Wednesday, May 31. The winner of that match will take on the defending US Open Cup champion FC Dallas (MLS) in Round 4.

2017 US Open Cup Round 1: OKC Energy U23s eliminate Tulsa Athletic, earn date with Tulsa Roughnecks in Round 2

May 12, 2017 by William Schulz

First-time US Open Cup entry Oklahoma City Energy U23s moved on to the Second Round of tournament play with a 4-2 penalty kick victory over Tulsa Athletic after a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at the University of Tulsa’s Hurricane Track & Soccer Complex.

Oklahoma City’s Matt Puig scored in regulation and in penalty kicks, but it was Tulsa goal scorer Declan Fitzpatrick that saw his chance in kicks sail high to end the game.

The first half was an open-ended and exciting affair, as both teams hit the ground running. Oklahoma City maintained a slim edge over Tulsa for most of the half. Both clubs played a physical first half, with Oklahoma City’s Noah Keats earning a yellow card for a piece of physical play. Tulsa came back with a surge of offense, but were unable to capitalize thanks to some fantastic goal keeping by OKC’s Eric Dick. Tulsa’s goalkeeper Michael Kluver was also in top form, making several important stops. Oklahoma City eventually found the back of the net near the end of the first half through Matt Puig, who scored an unassisted goal in the 44th minute of play.

The second half began with a much slower pace as Oklahoma City sat back in possession and Tulsa seemed unwilling to push. As time marched on, Tulsa slowly found their feet and by the middle of the second half they were knocking on the door for an equalizer.

Dick was an absolute beast in the second half, making numerous saves to deny Tulsa the goal they so desperately craved.

Eventually Tulsa found a crack in OKC’s defenses and managed to score a tremendous equalizer from Fitzpatrick. After the equalizer, the game accelerated to a frantic pace, but neither side was able to push ahead.

Both clubs spent all their substitutions during regulation, so a slowing of pace was perhaps inevitable as the rain came down on extra time. Tulsa’s Gustavo Vargas earned the first yellow card of extra time as tempers began to wear thin. Tulsa looked the more aggressive side, but neither were able to break through during the first half of extra time. The second half of the period proved to be a muddy and slog-filled with cramps and missed opportunities. This match would be decided by penalty kicks.

The rain stopped falling as though in recognition of the gravity surrounding the moment. The Energy were first up, and Jacob Van Compemolle scored the first goal. Tulsa’s Santiago Riveros attempted to answer, but Dick proved the better man once again by saving the shot. Caio Ruiz doubled OKC’s penalty lead, but this time Tulsa answered back through Rollie Rocha to make it 2-1. Noah Keats netted penalty number three for the Energy, and Joe Garcia did the same for Tulsa to make it 3-2.

Puig, the Oklahoma City goal scorer, stepped up to score penalty number four. In an almost poetic fashion, Tulsa’s Fitzpatrick stepped up to take Athletic’s fourth penalty. Fitzpatrick buckled under the pressure, sending his penalty well above the target.

The Oklahoma City Energy U23s will face the Tulsa Roughnecks on May 17.