GOODWELL, Okla. — For the second time in as many home matches, the Oklahoma Panhandle State men's soccer team (3-1-1) shut out its opponent Saturday evening with a 2-0 victory over Hesston College (1-4-0).
 
The result pushed OPSU past its win total from a season ago, and it marked the first victory at Anchor D Stadium for the program since Oct. 17, 2023.
 
A lightning delay just as the game was about to begin moved kickoff to shortly after 6 p.m., but the Aggies came out ready nonetheless on their home pitch, firing a season-high 23 shots.
 
Though both sides took their time settling into the match, Panhandle State took the night's first corner kick and first six shots to get the action rolling.
 
The score, however, remained knotted at 0-0 until the 41st minute when a frenzy led to a quick-strike goal for Othman Gherab, his third of the season.
 
OPSU kept its 1-0 lead through halftime and expanded on it in the 72nd minute when freshman Alami Senhaji centered the ball from the right wing to Ayoup Bader for a goal. Bader's score put him tied atop the season lead for the Aggies with Gherab.
 
The two-goal cushion allowed OPSU to get plenty of reserves some play in front of the Panhandle crowd as it cruised to victory. Seven players – Bader, Gherab, Pablo Benavides, Miguel Chavez, Simon Echeverry, Senhaji and Pascal Steinbach – recorded at least one shot on goal during the game.
 
In goal, Aron Kanyai played the bulk of the match while Niclas Frank recorded his first minutes of the year in the combined shutout.
 
What's up next: OPSU plays its final home nonconference game on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. against Colorado Christian (0-3-1).