Oskaloosa’s boys’ soccer team kicked off its 2022 season Thursday (3/31) with overtime.  But not much of it. Ottumwa beat the Indians 2-1 at Drost Field. The game-winner from Luis Bortello came 1:12 into sudden death overtime.  Oskaloosa’s Dalton Plate opened the scoring in the fourth minute; but Ottumwa’s Brian Baeza tied it a minute and a half later.  Indians’ Coach Greg Walter talked about his team’s play.

“We did some really good stuff. For our first game, we had so many chances. Not being able to put it into the back of the net. Hats off to their keeper, he made some good saves. We just hit the post. I mean, put it right to him.   I would say we had eight to ten shots that were right there, we just could not get it in the back of the net.  Unlucky at the end. I swear that (Ottumwa’s winning) was offside, but that’s the way the ball bounces and we didn’t get the call.”

Oskaloosa opens Little Hawkeye Conference play Tuesday (4/5) at home against Dallas Center-Grimes.  Ottumwa will be back in action Saturday morning (4/2) at a four team tournament in Newton that gets under way at 9am.