BETHANY, Okla. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State men's soccer team (4-3-2, 0-2-0 SAC) grabbed an early lead and nearly hung on for an upset result Monday afternoon at RV Oklahoma City (7-3-1, 1-0-1), before it ultimately fell, 3-2.
 
Simon Echeverry stunned the Stars in the 11th minute when he fired from mid-distance to score the match's first goal. Echeverry took advantage of a misplay deep in OCU's territory as the host's defense was surveying the field, and the Colombia native was all over the opportunity to launch a strong right-footed kick past the goalkeeper.
 
A pair of first-half saves by OPSU keeper Olai Caicoya kept the Aggies in front, 1-0, until late in the period when OCU had a nice combination for the equalizer.
 
With the game knotted 1-1 in the 57th minute, the Stars took a 2-1 lead following a corner kick.
 
Not to be deterred, Panhandle State positioned itself for a corner kick five minutes later and did not waste its chance. The corner, taken by Othman Gherab, was deflected high into the air, headed aggressively by Bruno de Oliveira in front of the net and headed once more by Ayoup Bader into the goal.
 
Bader's equalizer gave him five goals on the season and put him back atop the team lead in the category.
 
Caicoya did everything he could to preserve a 2-2 draw, as the Aggie goalie leapt and pounced to save several dangerous Star scoring opportunities from coming to fruition. Though credited with only two saves between the 64th and 75th minute, Caicoya helped stop a series of five consecutive corner kicks taken by OCU.
 
Alas, the Stars persevered to find the back of the net with under 15 minutes to play, and they escaped with a 3-2 victory despite late chances by Miguel Castejon and Gherab that just missed the mark.
 
Caicoya made six saves in a remarkable effort from the senior.
 
Offensively, OPSU took 11 shots. Five of those shots came from Echeverry, whose goal marked his second of the season. Castejon registered three shots on the day.
 
What's up next: Panhandle State returns to Anchor D Stadium on Saturday to face Nelson (5-3-1, 0-1-0).