CLAREMORE – Roman Torres scored the game winner to keep Tulsa Athletic in first place in the Heartland Conference table with a 2-1 win over Kansas City Sol on Saturday (July 1) at Soldier Field on the campus of Rogers State University.
With the win, the green and yellow moved to 6-1-2 on the season for 20 points and a one-point edge over OKC 1889 FC at 6-2-1 and 19 points with one game left for both sides.
The victory clinched a home playoff game for Tulsa set for Wednesday, July 12 in green country.
Torres, playing in his first match in the green and yellow since the US Open Cup against Sporting Kansas City, tallied the game-winning goal in the 81st minute to give Tulsa a 2-1 edge. Joe Ruiz flicked the ball back to Torres, and he hit a strike from the left side of the box for the lead.
Rio Mello gave Tulsa Athletic an early 1-0 advantage in the 22nd minute of action when he converted on a penalty. The green and yellow earned the penalty in the 21st minute after a foul in the box.
Kansas City evened the score at 1-1 right before halftime in the second minute of stoppage time.
After the goal, Tulsa Athletic continued to put pressure on with a Mello shot that KC’s goalkeeper just got a toe on in the 26th minute. Aaron Ugbah forced another save with his strike in the 37th minute. In the second half, the green and yellow had a chance on a set piece, but KC came up with another save.
Outside of the goal before half, Tulsa Athletic’s defense limited chances, and goalkeeper Bryson Reed came up with some big saves.
Tulsa Athletic ends the regular season on Saturday, July 8 at Reign FK at 7 p.m. at Bartlesville High School in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. A live video stream will be available, and the official watch party is at Heirloom Rustic Ales in Tulsa.
For more information on Tulsa Athletic, go to tulsaathletic.com.
