Rogers State earned its first conference championship in dramatic fashion with a 6-5 win over Oklahoma Christian on Wednesday in front of more than 300 fans at Soldier Field.

 

The Hillcats outlasted the Lady Eagles in a wild scoring affair.

 

“I’m really proud of our team,” said Derek Larkin, RSU head soccer coach. “To be the first team at RSU to earn a conference championship is really special.”
 

Sutherland gave the Hillcats an early lead and freshman JoAnna Petty added a goal two minutes later as RSU appeared to be in control of the match in the early going. Taryn Caylor drew the Lady Eagles within one with 16:18 left to play in the first half. Sutherland responded with her second goal on an assist from Petty to make it 3-1. Kristen Brown scored on a penalty kick with 33 seconds remaining in the first half for OC and the Hillcats clung to a one-goal lead at the break.
 

Oklahoma Christian took control early in the second half. Caylor, Brown and Stephanie Duncan rattled off three consecutive goals to give the Lady Eagles a commanding 5-3 lead. However, with less than 20 minutes remaining in the match RSU freshman Tiffany Roberts stepped up and gave her team a lift for the second time in the tournament. Roberts beat Jorgensen on back-to-back breakaway goals to tie the game, 5-5. The Claremore native scored both goals in the Hillcats 2-1 over Northwestern in the SAC tournament quarter-finals.
 

Roberts set the stage for Sutherland’s heroics. The senior captain dribbled past the OC goalie and snuck the game winner just inside the left post. RSU goalie Bailey Lynn kept the Lady Eagles out the net the rest of the way. Lynn was tested repeatedly in the match but stood tall with 12 saves.
 

The Hillcats improved to 18-2 with the victory and earned an automatic berth in the Region VI tournament. RSU will host Northwood University (Cedar Hill, Texas) in first round action on Saturday at Soldier Field. The RSU men earned an at-large bid to the Region VI tournament and will travel to Oklahoma Christian for an 8 p.m. match on Saturday.