Rangers Fall for the First Time

The Swope Park Rangers suffered their first loss of the season on the road tonight in Oklahoma City, falling 1-0 to the OKC Energy. The loss drops the Rangers record to 2-1-1 on the season ahead of a Wednesday night game against the Vancouver Whitecaps 2 at Swope Park.

It was a back and forth affair for most of the night while the Energy had the best of the chances. FC Dallas loanee, Coy Craft had the Energy's two best chances in the first half, both efforts went off a post. Rangers goalkeeper, Jon Kempin was also busy having to make a few saves in the first half to keep the game scoreless.

The second half saw the Energy dictate play for the most part while the Rangers tried to absorb the pressure and counter more. Kempin continued to have a big game, coming up with big saves and getting some help again from the post on a free kick by Jose Cuevas that Kempin tipped onto the post and out of the way of danger. He also came up with a big save on Peter Toth on a shot from distance. In the 80th minute though there was nothing that Kempin could do on the Energy's winning goal. After pinning the Rangers in deep the Energy worked the ball around the box to the far side and crossed a ball back to the back post where two Energy players were unmarked. Defender Kalen Ryden headed the ball back across goal, past Kempin and into the side netting to give the Energy the lead.

After OKC grabbed the lead the Rangers really started to press the attack. The best chances both came from substitutes, the first came to Kris Tyrpak who was able to get a 2v1 situation. Instead of looking to cross the ball Tyrpak tried to slot a shot on goal but it was deflected wide of the post by an OKC defender. Their best chance though came in the 88th minute when a Jimmy Mulligan cross made it through the box to Daniel Salloi who was about 10 yards from goal, but the forward put his volley into the ground and it bounced over the goal without threatening the OKC goal. The Energy held on late and took all three points as the Rangers fell to 2-1-1 on the season.