Oakland Repeats as Men's Soccer Champion

CHICAGO -- In a rematch of last year's Horizon League Men's Soccer Championship, Oakland repeated the result, converting a free kick in the 66th minute and holding off Wright State for a 1-0 victory at Flames Field.

Oakland (10-8-1) will represent the Horizon League in the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament for the second straight year, with its tournament destination  to be announced on Monday, Nov. 16, on NCAA.com.

In a taut affair, Matt Dudley's free kick in the 66th minute proved to be the difference. Following a Wright State foul, Dudley stepped up from about 21 yards and drove a low, curling kick to the lower left corner of the net, eluding a diving Tyler Blackmer and setting off a wild frenzy near the Oakland bench.

Dudley's goal was his fifth on the year and came on Oakland's second shot on frame of the night.

Wright State would push forward in the latter stages of the game, but a free kick in the waning seconds sailed harmlessly over the bar, and the celebration was on for the Golden Grizzlies.

The victory continued a dominant run for Oakland in the fall championships season, marking the program's fourth straight League title following men's and women's cross country and women's soccer championships.

Dudley earned most valuable player honors for his game-winning goal and was joined by teammates Eliott Tarney, Derek Nowak and Matt Rickard on the all-tournament team. Tarney turned in two clean sheets in the victories.

Wright State placed Peguy Ngatcha, Wes Cain and Austin Polster onto the all-tournament team.

2015 Horizon League Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Sergio Manesio, Cleveland State
Hesham Hammouda, Cleveland State
Jorge Alvarez, UIC
Thomas Villamil, UIC
Peguy Ngatcha, Wright State
Wes Cain, Wright State
Austin Polster, Wright State
Eliott Tarney, Oakland
Derek Nowak, Oakland
Matt Rickard, Oakland
Matt Dudley, Oakland (MVP)