Black Diamonds lose first-ever playoff game in overtime to host Skiatook

Sallisaw junior Wesley Rodriguez was a soccer scoring machine with four goals, but it wasn’t enough as host Skiatook tallied a dramatic own goal with 6:07 left in overtime for a 5-4 victory in a Class 4A firstround playoff match Monday night at Exchange Bank Stadium.

The Bulldogs (11-4) had rallied from a 4-3 deficit with 3:29 left in regulation that set up the extra period.

Hunter Howell, who was responsible for the kick that led to the own goal clincher, tied the game. It was Howell’s third goal of the night.

However, overtime nearly ended before it began.

Rodriguez got free on a breakaway to the Skiatook goal. Keeper Dalton Vice stopped Rodriguez’s shot. That turned out to be Sallisaw’s last big threat.

The ’Dogs played from behind all game until Howell’s blocked kick found its way into the Sallisaw net after it touched a Black Diamond player in the group around the play.

Rodriguez scored in the first five minutes of the game to open the scoring. He got No. 2 with 22:08 left in the half for a 2-0 lead for the Black Diamonds (10-3).

Skiatook began its comeback on Howell’s first score at the 18-minute mark. That’s how the half ended, with Sallisaw leading 2-1.

The fireworks didn’t stop as the second half began.

Skiatook’s Tommy Roberson scored with 29:14 showing for the first tie of the game at 2-all.

Fifty seconds later, Rodriguez put the Black Diamonds back in front at the 28:24 mark during a crowded battle near the corner of the net that resulted in a goal for another hat trick for the Black Diamond player — and, more importantly, a 3-2 lead for Sallisaw.

Five minutes later, Howell tied it again at 3-all.

By this time, the game resembled football as both teams were not afraid to get physical and the final 11 minutes was a case in point.

Sallisaw’s last tally came when Rodriguez was taken down near the penalty box and awarded a penalty kick. His rocket penalty kick was unstoppable to retake the lead at 4-3 for the Black Diamonds.

Skiatook turned up the offensive pressure in an attempt to rally.

Howell used a header to score the tying goal off an assist from Roberson with just 3:29 left in regulation for the match’s third tie at 4-all.

The game eventually went to overtime and ended in the dramatic, yet unusual, way for the Bulldogs.

“They played pretty good,” Sallisaw coach Sinue Rodriguez said. “All season, they never quit. They played physical and as fast as possible.”