PINEVILLE, Ark. – After nearly two weeks since its last match, McMurry University men's soccer was unable to shake off the rust, falling at the University of the Ozarks, 4-2.
 
The loss left the War Hawks' season record at 4-6. The Eagles improved to 5-5-2.
 
The two clubs went back and forth in the early going. UO scored in the fifth minute, barely allowing fans to settle into their seats.
 
The match could have gotten out of hand early when, in the 7th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to UO, already leading 1-0. But McM's Ian McCarthy made a tremendous diving save to his left to keep his team in the contest.
 
McCarthy would eventually finish the day with seven saves.
 
The War Hawks were able to draw even in the 34th minute of play when Julio Alfaro fed the ball to John Alsides, who beat UO goalie Luis Mena to make it 1-1.
 
Unfortunately for the visiting McM team, the Eagles answered less than two minutes later and would carry that 2-1 lead into the halftime break.
 
Senior Cody Gentry – who has been McMurry's "Mr. Dependable" during his four seasons – blasted in a wide-open shot at the 51:01, with the help of an assist from fellow senior Jacob Howdeshell, which knotted it at 2-2.
 
Ozarks would respond with a pair of unanswered goals in the 57th and 75th minutes to make the difference in the match, 4-2.
 
UO out-shot McMurry, 15-9.