Aug. 27, 2011

 

Box Score

 

TULSA, Okla. - Jack Twellman scored twice to lead SIUE to a 3-1 upset win on the road at Tulsa, which carried a No. 29 ranking according to TopDrawerSoccer.com into the match. The game was the season opener for both teams.

"It was a fantastic way to start the season," SIUE Head Coach Kevin Kalish said.

Twellman opened the scoring, converting on a penalty kick in the 13th minute to put the Cougars up 1-0. It stayed that way until James Gulley scored for Tulsa to even the score in the 45th minute. The teams were even at a goal apiece at halftime.

Kelly netted his first goal of the season in the put the Cougars up for good just two minutes into the second half. Matt Polster assisted, feeding Kelly with a pass up the middle of the field.

"Peter Kelly's goal at the start of the second half gave us a fighting spirit," Kalish said.

Kalish also credited his coaching staff with identifying some points of improvement.

"We needed to stop some of what they were doing in the first," Kalish added. "Realistically there were some halftime adjustments that (assistants) Jeremy (Alumbaugh) and Brian (Jones) spotted that we needed to make."

Tulsa, which outshot SIUE 19-6 in the match, had an 8-2 shot advantage in the first half.

Kalish also credited his team's defense.

"We didn't give up too many quality chances in the second half," he said. "All four of the backs were very good tonight. (Goalkeeper) Scott Meyer was fantastic."

Twellman capped the scoring with his second goal of the game in the 65th minute. Polster and Derek Huffman each assisted. Twellman finished the play with a header past Tulsa goalkeeper Cody Mumma.

Kalish admitted getting the win on the road was important.

"If we're going to have any aspiration of playing in the postseason we're going to have to win on the road."

SIUE will open the home season Thursday when Green Bay comes to Korte Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.