Indy Eleven Downed by FC Tulsa for Win
October 1, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – FC Tulsa News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – No longer is the story surrounding FC Tulsa’s youth movement centered on the teenagers earning competitive minutes in the USL Championship. With the second hat trick in franchise history on Saturday night, 18-year-old Luca Sowinski single-handedly rewrote this chapter of FC Tulsa’s season – they’re not just here to hit the pitch, they’re here to run this league.
FC Tulsa got things going early in this one, being the first of the two sides to find the scoreboard in the 17′ minute. After putting four shots on frame compared to Indy’s zero, Tulsa’s fifth found the back of the net off the boot of 18-year-old Luca Sowinski. Just a step away from the goalpost, Sowinski somehow snuck a shot across the face of Indy’s keeper and inside the far post for his first professional goal in just his second professional appearance.
The lead would last all of seven minutes, however, as a foul conceded by FC Tulsa in a dangerous area resulted in a direct free kick goal from the Indy captain, Ayoze. Ayoze bent a low shot around the Tulsa wall and beat Austin Wormell to the back post to equalize at one apiece.
The first half action did not conclude there as a third goal, the second belonging to FC Tulsa, hit the back of the net in the 45+5′ minute. Darío Suárez was cut down in the box as the Cuban was chasing a through ball slipped in by Rodrigo da Costa. A penalty was awarded to FC Tulsa as a reparation for the Indy infraction and Super Darío, who has never missed from the spot in his career, made the home side pay with his ninth goal of the season.
FC Tulsa concluded the first half with seven shots on target. On 24 occasions this season, FC Tulsa failed to muster seven shots on targets over the full 90 minutes.
After getting his first taste of scoring in the USL Championship, Sowinski demanded more in the second half and timed a perfect run in the 48′ minute. Da Costa saw the teenager break and set up his midfield partner beautifully. Sowinski picked his spot in the far corner and executed to perfection, notching his second of the evening.
How about a quick algebra question halfway through this recap? 1+1+x=3. Find the answer below.
Before we get to that, Indy would get a goal back from the penalty spot in the 54′ minute as Ayoze scored his second of the match, going toe to toe with Sowinski with two goals scored – until he was left in the dust.
Luca Sowinski left Michael A. Carroll Stadium and Tulsa alike with their jaws on the floor in the 62′ minute as he recorded FC Tulsa’s first hat trick in four years. Nearly mirroring his first goal, Sowinski received the ball from Suárez and was presented with a seemingly impossible angle to score from, but as he proved all night, no angle is too acute for this kid. Sowinski blistered his shot into the corner, capping off one of the best single-match efforts in franchise history. 1+1+1=3.
The curtain closed on Sowinski’s night in the 77′ minute as he was subbed out, much to the delight of the fans in Indy, and met with an ovation from the Tulsa bench.
FC Tulsa leaves Indianapolis with all three points in a dominating display that made one thing crystal clear – the future is indeed very bright for this club.
Attached are Final Stats and Postmatch Quotes from interim head coach Donovan Ricketts, midfielder Luca Sowinski, and forward Darío Suárez.
GOALS
17′ TUL – Luca Sowinski (Sean McFarlane)
24′ IND – Ayoze
45+5′ TUL – Darío Suárez (PK)
48′ TUL – Luca Sowinski (Rodrigo da Costa)
54′ IND – Ayoze (PK)
62′ TUL – Luca Sowinski (Darío Suárez)
THREE TAKEAWAYS
1) Making History
Luca Sowinski’s hat trick on Saturday night marks only the second time in franchise history that a Tulsa man notched three goals in a match. The only other player to do so was current FC Dallas and USMNT forward Jesus Ferriera on September 5, 2018. Ferreira was 17 years and nine months old at the time of his hat trick, Sowinski was 18 years and four months old.
2) Darío Stays Perfect
When Darío Suárez looms over the ball ahead of a penalty kick, FC Tulsa fans automatically assume it’s going in. Suárez’s conversion on Saturday marked the sixth time he has scored from the spot in his Tulsa career, the most of any player in franchise history. In addition, Suárez has never missed, going a perfect six-for-six. The Cuban forward has now scored in seven of FC Tulsa’s last nine matches.
3) Shoot Early, Shoot Often
FC Tulsa pounded the goal on Saturday night, steering nine shots out of 16 on frame. The club’s nine attempts on target are tied for the second-most that it has tallied this season, just one shy of its 2022 record of 10 set on April 2 vs. New York Red Bulls II.
UP NEXT
FC Tulsa returns to ONEOK Field to play its final two matches in front of the home fans. Monterey Bay F.C. makes the trip to Tulsa for the first ever match between the two clubs on Saturday, October 8. The same night will also be Vamos Tulsa Night at ONEOK, a night dedicated to honoring and celebrating Hispanic/Latinx culture with live music, food trucks, and more starting at 3 p.m. CT!
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