Pride get in the win column behind Medrano's second half goal

ELGIN, Ill. - Getting their 2025 season started with back-to-back games away from Dubuque on back-to-back days, the Clarke University men's soccer team earned their first win of the season by a 2-1 final score over Oakland City University on a neutral field at Judson University on Friday afternoon.

For the second time in as many games, the Pride struck first with William Arana scoring his first goal as a member of the Pride when he collected a deflected ball turned over by the Mighty Oaks defense in the CU attacking third and ripped a right-footed shot from 25 yards out to beat the keeper high to make it 1-0 in the 33rd minute.

Just a day after Clarke was able to score as close to a last second goal in the first half of their season opener, the Pride would concede an equalizer in the 44th minute when OCU's Alfie Rouse found the back of the net to make it a 1-1 game prior to the halftime break.

Anything getting back game two starting goalkeeper for CU, Philipp Kohle as the sophomore made five saves in the first half to finish his 2025 debut with an eight-save performance after Lucas Fontana made six saves in the Pride's 1-1 draw on Thursday.

In just about three minutes into the second half, Clarke was able to break the tie when senior Hector Medrano scored his first goal of the season as he collected a ball in traffice from Alfonso Gonzalez and took a left-footed shot inside of the far post to give CU the 2-1 lead they would eventually win by.

Given the rare occurance of playing soccer games on back-to-back day, head coach Mike Paye definitely spread the minutes around for the Pride with 21 field players seeing action and Kohle being the only player to be on the pitch for 90 minutes in goal after having Thursday off as Gonzalez got his first assist in a game where he played 81 minutes, just behind yesterday's goal scorer Nearco Zamorano, who led the field players with 86 minutes.

Clarke men's soccer will play their home opener as their next game on Thursday, Aug. 28 when they host Midland University at Burrows Field at 5:00 p.m. CT.