*This story has been updated to reflect a stat correction.
KLAMATH FALLS – Southern Oregon kept its record clean and dealt Oregon Tech its first loss, 2-0, in a Cascade Conference battle of unbeaten rivals on Friday afternoon at OIT Soccer Field.
The Raiders (6-0-1 overall, 3-0 CCC) ran their winning streak to four games but needed no late magic in the latest, getting goals early in both halves courtesy of
Ariel De Dios Cruz and
Michael Mutchukian.
After deciding last week's triumphs with 85th- and 90th-minute blows, the Raiders went ahead eight minutes in against the Owls (3-1-5, 1-1-1) when De Dios Cruz drove home a low free kick. The goal was his second in three games since returning from an injury that sidelined him for a year.
Mutchukian swung the game on both sides of the field. The 6-foot-5 defender prevented the Owls from leveling the score in the 40th minute, sliding in to stop Lucas Kay-Wong's header from crossing the line moments after Cannon Spponer's free kick hit the crossbar.
In the 64th minute, Mutchukian leapt at
JP Warnell's throw-in near the corner and headed it inside the far post for his third goal of the season. The senior from Las Vegas has had goal involvements in all three of SOU's conference games.
The Owls were kept off the board despite a 14-5 edge in shots; they generated nine in the first half alone. SOU keeper
Daniel Espinosa made four saves in his second shutout.
The Raiders improved to 9-1-1 all-time against the Owls in conference matchups. They've turned in clean sheets in eight of those.
Both teams will play host next week to Carroll (Mont.) and Rocky Mountain (Mont.).
