LA GRANDE, Ore. – Adrian Gomez scored an overtime winner for the University of Providence men's soccer team in a 2-1 double-overtime victory against Eastern Oregon University. The Argos took a 1-0 lead a minute and a half into the game but let up an equalizer in the 72nd minute before Gomez played the hero less than four minutes left in the game.
 
The winning effort showcased Gomez's mesmerizing foot skills. He dribbled through multiple EOU defenders, eventually working his way right up to the net where he finished from three yards out with a shot that deflected off a defender but was on target anyway.
 
"Overall our resiliency and composure gave us the chance to win this game," Head Coach Joseph Yeisley said. "We have to continue to work on being able to solve the problems teams present to us but getting 6 points on the road is never easy in this conference. We are very happy to have done that."
 
In the previous day's game, UP scored in the 4th minute against Warner Pacific College on the way to a dominant 4-0 win. It looked like the team was up for more of the same when senior forward Christoffer Bisbo got the scoring started even earlier, putting one in with just 1:17 off the clock.
 
The goal was a result of the strong chemistry the team's starting front three have developed after starting almost all of 2016 and 2017 together. A series of clever passes freed up sophomore forward George Holloway on a check back. Holloway then turned and attacked the EOU backline. He then saw Bisbo splitting two defenders and played perfectly weighted rolled pass that got the senior one-on-one with the Mountaineer goalie.
 
Having already scored 10 goals in 2017, Bisbo's confidence was already at an all-time high and he had no trouble finishing for his eleventh goal of the year. He has scored in six of the team's eight contests in 2017, including 4 goals in the last three games.
 
For the rest of the half, the two teams exchanged scoring chances. Eastern Oregon was more shot happy than the Argos, getting off 8 shots to UP's 4, but the ones UP did get were of high quality. Both keepers ended the first 45 minutes with 2 saves under their belts.
 
"I was very impressed with our defending this match," Yeisley said. "I thought we handled their attack very well."
 
In the second half, UP was actually the more dangerous team offensively. Each team got off 7 shots in the half, but 5 of those shots for the Argos challenged the Mountaineer keeper as shots on goal.
 
Despite controlling play, EOU eventually broke through with an equalizer from Ethan Ronquillo in the 72nd minute.
 
Neither side could unlock the other's defense in the following 18 minutes and for the first time in 2017, the Argos headed to overtime.
 
In the first 10 minute overtime period, EOU was the clear aggressor. A shot earlier in the period forced UP keeper Marc Girones to make another save and EOU didn't allow an Argo shot.
 
Through most of the second overtime, it still looked like either the game would end in a tie or the Mountaineers would win. With four minutes left to play, UP still hadn't gotten off a shot, but that all changed just second later.
 
That's when Gomez went on his dribbling excursion into the EOU penalty box and scored the game winner. The shot led to his third goal of the season and his first game winner.
 
The Argos are now 5-3 (4-2) on the year and temporarily hold lone possession of third place in the CCC standings, though if Rocky Mountain College defeats 2-7 (0-5) Multnomah University on Sunday, RMC and UP will be tied by the end of the weekend.
 
UP will return home next weekend for two home games on Alumni, Family, and Friends Weekend, starting with College of Idaho on Friday, October 6 at 1 p.m. on Argo Field.