DBU (0-2-0) vs OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN (1-4-0)
March 16 | 5:00 p.m. | Dallas, TX | Patriot Field

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COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF
The DBU Men's Soccer team returns home to Patriot Field as they host Oklahoma Christian University in a Lone Star Conference matchup that will take place on Tuesday, March 16th at 5:00 p.m.

The Patriots look to bounce back after they fell in a tightly contested match with West Texas A&M over the weekend. In a game that took place Saturday afternoon on a windy and rainy day in Canyon, the Patriots came out of the gate and gave West Texas all they could handle for the 90 minutes of action. The midfield for DBU found themselves in a battle all afternoon and did an excellent job of sticking in hard challenges and facilitating the ball around the field. Carlos Lara played every minute of the game and had solid outing. Koli McCullough and Mason Wallak combined well with each other when they were in possession of the ball and were able to break through the West Texas midfield all afternoon.
 
Freshman goalie Kyle Renton earned his first career start on the day and made several big saves for the Patriots. Renton, a freshman from Frisco Heritage High School, was tested multiple times and did well at staying strong in his net. Christian Naizer was very active in the left back role and did a solid job of sticking with his matchup. Nazier did a good job getting down the line for DBU and overlapping his left sided partner in Alan Acuna to help facilitate the attack for the Patriots.
 
All afternoon, the Patriots and the Buffs went back and forth with each other with both seeing solid chances and having spells of possession on the ball. Ultimately, West Texas would be able to cash in on one of their opportunities in the 83rd minute of the match to go up 1-0, a score line which they would see out for the remaining seven minutes.

PATRIOT STORYLINES
 - Sophomore Payton Franklin continues to fit in nicely to his new center back role. The Greenville native is a physical and quick defender who is able to put in strong challenges anywhere along the field. Franklin's move has allowed him to command the Patriots from the heart of the defense as he does a solid job of organizing his partners and the midfield in front of him.

 - Transfer Brock Bennison came off of the bench for DBU midway through the first half in the last outing. Bennison worked well with Franklin in the middle of the defense and will likely see significant action throughout the remainder of the season. Bennison, a transfer from Roanoke College, is another physically defender available to DBU and will look to dominate any of the challenges he sees on the year.

 - The Patriots are arguably the deepest in net they have ever been this season. Kyle Renton and Oral Roberts transfer Alexander Knepper have both seen full games of action so far this year. Each goalie has good reflexes and is capable of making big time saves. In terms of facilitating the ball out of the back and commanding the backline in front of them, the two are vocal with their voice and are able to ping the ball around the field with their feet.

 - Marco Casulli, another freshman on this Patriots roster, has seen action off of the bench both games for DBU. Casulli sees his action on the wing for DBU and is a shifty player who is able to create chances for the Patriots going forward. The Arlington native will look to impact the game throughout the season and contribute to this young offense.

SCOUTING WEST TEXAS A&M
- The Eagles finished the 2019 campaign with a 5-11 record and placed 10th in the Lone Star Conference standings. Oklahoma Christian comes into the matchup 1-4 on the year.

- Currently, there are 2 players who have found the back of the net for OCU and multiple who have provided assists. Ian Arendse leads the attack for the Eagles with two goals and one assist through the first five games.

- Oklahoma Christian returns 2019 Third-Team All Lone Star Conference selection goalie Anthony Trabichet. Trabichet was also named LSC's Goalkeeper of the Week earlier this season.

- Eagles Head Coach David Scott is in his 14th season in charge. Scott, a standout goalie at Central Arkansas during his collegiate days, has guided the Eagles to an overall record of 86-122-21 since he took over. In 2007, Scott was named Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots are 6-4 all-time against the Eagles. DBU won the last matchup between the two in a 2-1 overtime victory in 2019.

UP NEXT
DBU continues their home stand when they host Texas A&M – International on Friday, March 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.