TULSA – After a scoreless first half, Tulsa Athletic tallied four second-half goals to cruise to a 4-0 victory over Arkansas Wolves on Sunday (May 22) at Athletic Community Field at Hicks Park.
Abou Diallo finished with a brace as he scored two goals. Damani Harris and Reed Berry each added goals for the 4-0 victory.
The green and yellow moved to 3-0-1 on the season and pulled out to a three-point lead in the Heartland Conference standings at 10 points after four matches. Tulsa Athletic moved to 2-0 at their new home, Athletic Community Field at Hicks Park.
“The boys performed well today,” assistant coach Ray Saari said. “I think today proved to them how good they are, and how good they can become when they are performing at their best. We’re very pleased with the three points, and we look to take the momentum from our second half performance into our game against OKC 1889 on Wednesday.”
Harris scored his first goal in the green and yellow to put Tulsa Athletic up 1-0 in the 47th minute. Juan Moreno sent a ball into the box, and Harris smashed it into the back of the net.
Diallo made it 2-0 Tulsa in the 59th minute. Francisco Lopez lined up a free kick from about 30 yards out and his ball sent in was headed in by Diallo for the 2-0 score.
Diallo made it a brace in the 71st minute with his second goal of the match. After a quick throw-in, Diallo found himself at the top of the box, and he fired a shot from 18 yards out that found the left corner of the goal for a 3-0 Tulsa Athletic advantage.
Berry added the final tally in the 89th minute for the 4-0 edge. He headed in a goal, his second of the season, on a corner kick for the final margin.
Bryson Reed earned his first shutout win this season. The backline of Javier Reyes, Joe Ruiz, Joel Quashie and Lopez helped in the defensive effort. Quashie moved to centerback for the first time in his career in the green and yellow.
In the Heartland Conference standings, Tulsa Athletic leads with 10 points in four matches. OKC 1889 FC and Sunflower State each have seven points in three matches. Arkansas Wolves has three points after three contests.
The green and yellow moved to 2-0-1 all-time against the Arkansas Wolves. Tulsa Athletic defeated Wolves 4-0 a season ago at Veterans Park with Diallo finishing with a hat trick. In the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, the match ended in a 3-3 draw in Little Rock in the 2021 season opener. Diallo has six goals in three matches against the Wolves.
Tulsa Athletic goes on the road for their next two contests. The green and yellow travel to OKC 1889 FC on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match at Norman Youth Soccer Association Fields in Norman, Oklahoma. Next Sunday, Tulsa Athletic takes on Club Atletico Saint Louis in St. Louis at 6 p.m. Live video streams will be available for both contests.
