Allowing two goals in the final 30 minutes during a steady rain Saturday, the Northeastern A&M Golden Norsemen dropped a 3-2 decision to Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa in the Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams on the NEO pitch.


With the loss coach John Parrigon's Golden Norse are 0-1 in the league and 3-9 on the season. The defending Region 2 champion Mavericks are 1-0 and 6-4 overall.
The Golden Norsemen are scheduled to travel to Independence, Mo., Friday, for a 4 p.m. match with Metropolitan Community College-Blue River. The Trail Blazers are 7-3-1 on the year.
NEO scored the first goal against the run of play early in the first half when a long shot by sophomore Lee McNiell skidded off the turf under Northern goalkeeper Chris Brown.  
The Mavs equalized the score in the first half when Jareb Smith beat several defenders and passed the ball to Tyler Hall for a goal at the 20-minute juncture.  
The Golden Norsemen regained the lead early in the second half with another long shot finding the back of the net by Garrett Ward with 50 minutes showing on the clock.  
NOC-Tonkawa forward Anthony Walker tied the game with a goal at the 60-minute mark while Kody Gardner provided the assist.  
Forward Otavio Milagres took a pass from defender Kyle Dominguez and scored the game winner with six minutes left to play.