Steve Spangler made seven saves in goal, including a number of key stops in the extra periods, as the Oregon State men’s soccer team battled Wake Forest (0-2-1, 0-0-0 ACC) to a scoreless draw at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Sunday evening.  The result moves the Beavers’ record to 0-2-1 on the season.

“This was a tremendous effort all the way around,” Oregon State head coach Steve Simmons said.  “It was a tough environment, our second game on the road in ACC country.  The message [after the North Carolina game] was to respond...and our guys did exactly that.  I was very pleased with the mentality and approach guys had going into this game.”

The contest was a back-and-forth affair for much of the night with neither team able to gain a stranglehold on the action.  Statistically deadlocked for the majority of the 110 minutes, both squads had their chances as each probed and prodded for an opportunity to strike.

The Demon Deacons jumped out to an early 5-2 advantage in shots, but Spangler made a trio of saves on Luca Gimenez and Andy Lubahn in the 18th minute to maintain the scoreless draw.

“Wake Forest came at us like we knew they would and I think we weathered the storm in the first 10 minutes and after that both teams were going at it,” Simmons said.  “We were able to create more chances as well as be a better defensive team [so] I’m pleased with the growth of the last three games as far as our defending effort.”

Oregon State got into the box a number of times, but had its efforts fly high or wide on a number of occasions.  The team’s best chance game at the tail end of regulation when Jake Parker took a quick corner and a header in front of the goal by Emery Welshman sailed just high.

In the first overtime, Wake Forest’s Lubahn maneuvered behind OSU’s defense, but Spangler again came up big and turned away the shot off his left foot to ensure a second extra session.

Despite failing to push any goals across, Oregon State continued to pressure Wake Forest until the final whistle, but Welshman’s shot in the second overtime was blocked and chances from Alex Penny and Alex Eckerson rose over the crossbar.

The first shutout of the season for the Beavers was a credit to their collective defensive effort.  Wake Forest held a 15-5 edge in corner kicks, but was unable to capitalize on a single chance.  With Spangler’s seven saves he now has 190 in his career and needs only seven more to move up to third on Oregon State’s all-time list.

“Spangler was sensational tonight, not only in stopping shots, but also in getting us forward on quick counter attacks,” Simmons said.  “I thought our whole back line did a tremendous job of neutralizing.  When you play these teams [like Wake Forest] they’re going to get there.  You just have to absorb them and we did that.  We just have to do a better job with our chances.”

Welshman had eight shots in the contest and now has 15 in just three games.  OSU had a 17-16 edge in shots and committed only 12 fouls to Wake Forest’s 14.

The Beavers will return to action next Friday at 2:30 p.m. when they head south to take on UC Davis in California.

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