Mueller scores twice as Beavers Top Aces
“What about that, huh?” OSU coach Steve Simmons said of Mueller’s performance.
(CORVALLIS, Ore. ) — Freshman Timmy Mueller scored twice and added an assist in his Oregon State debut on Friday, leading the Beavers to a 3-1 victory over Evansville at Lorenz Field in their season opener.
A forward from Post Falls, Idaho, Mueller assisted on a first-half goal by senior Khiry Shelton. He then added markers of his own in the second half to get the Beavers (1-0-0) off on the right foot in the southern portion of the Portland Nike Invitational.
“What about that, huh?” OSU coach Steve Simmons said of Mueller’s performance. “It’s a great start. Outside of giving up the goal, our defensive effort was fantastic,” as keepers Matt Bersano and Nolan Wirth each played a half and combined for three saves.
“Everybody contributed,” Simmons added. “I told the guys to make sure they knew their roles, and they did. I told them to follow the game plan, which they did. I want them to make plays.
“With younger players, there’s that fine line of trying to make plays but not wanting to make mistakes. I said, ‘Go out and make plays. Mistakes are going to happen.’ I think their head was in the right spot.”
OSU’s top returning scorer, Shelton made it 1-0 at 35:51 by finishing off a nifty three-way play with Mueller and sophomore Devonte Small, both of whom had subbed in just minutes before. Small freed up Mueller just past midfield with an over-the-top pass; Mueller then threaded a perfect through ball to the streaking Shelton, who buried a laser from the right side for his 10th career goal.
Mueller made it 2-0 at 46:25 with his first career goal on a sitter following a scramble in front, assisted by Shelton and junior Mikhail Doholis. Evansville drew within 2-1 at 72:28, but Mueller restored the two-goal advantage at 81:50 off a cross from Michael Steele and OSU cruised home from there.
“That second goal kind of turned some things” in OSU’s favor, Simmons said. “There was a lull, credit to Evansville, they buried a nice goal but we replied right away. That’s that mental constitution I’m looking for.”
OSU is the defending Nike Invitational champion; it captured the 2013 event with wins over Cleveland State and UC Davis at Lorenz Field. Bersano was the Top Defensive Player, Shelton was the Co-Top Offensive Player.
The Beavers host UCF at noon Sunday; the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Oregon network. The Knights played at Portland on Friday night in the northern portion of the tournament.
“I told the team to enjoy the win because winning is precious in any Division I competition it’s very difficult to win,” Simmons said. “I want them to reflect on the great things they did.
“But when we get back to the drawing board tomorrow let’s think about how to tighten things up and get ready for a very good UCF team,” and add another early building block to the the foundation of a potential postseason run.
“The first goal is to make sure we have our nonconference goals sorted out so it prepares us” for Pacific-12 Conference play, Simmons said. “Then let’s have our conference goals sorted out so we get a chance to get a run atx the tournament. Everything we’re doing is for that time.”
Source: Oregon State Athletics
Video Courtesy OSU/YouTube
