TULSA, Okla. – Taylor Calheira scored a pair of goals while Jamie Webber notched a goal and assist as No. 1 seed FC Tulsa won the Western Conference title with a 3-0 victory against No. 3 seed New Mexico United before a club-record sellout crowd of 9,180 fans at ONEOK Field in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix, claiming the first silverware in the Scissortails’ history.

Tulsa will host Eastern Conference title-winner Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the 2025 USL Championship Final next Saturday at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT on the CBS Television Network.

The Scissortails’ high pressure created early opportunities, with Alex Dalou forcing a save from New Mexico’s Kris Shakes after the hosts created a second chance off a long throw-in and both Calheira and Kalil ElMedkhar being denied on rapid-fire opportunities after a turnover playing out of the back. The hosts were close again in the 26th minute when a free kick fell to Lamar Batista, whose alert backheeled finish was cleared off the goal line by United’s Kalen Ryden.

Tulsa’s pressure eventually told six minutes before the halftime break when Dalou picked off a pass out of the back and quickly found Webber, who calmly laid off a pass for Calheira to bury his 16th goal of the campaign and give the hosts a halftime lead.

Held without a shot in the first half, New Mexico almost found an equalizer seven minutes into the second half on its first effort of the night when Zico Bailey’s first-time shot from Dayonn Harris’ cutback cross was blocked wide by Batista. Five minutes later, however, Tulsa had its second as a long throw-in fell to Ian, whose lifted finish was blocked on the line by Bailey only for Calheira to bundle home his second of the night from close range.

Harris went close for the visitors midway through the second half as his shot hit the crossbar before being cleared to safety, but with 14 minutes to go Webber wrapped up result, sliding home a finish after a clever through-ball by Dalou into the right side of the penalty area allowed the hosts to make it three.

Takeaways

FC Tulsa: The Scissortails continued their epic campaign with the most dominant performance of the postseason by any side as Taylor Calheira struck twice to move to 17 goals across the regular season and playoffs while the club’s pressure turned possession over eight times in New Mexico’s defensive third, helping created a 3.17 Expected Goals mark on 19 shots.

New Mexico United: The visitors were unable to get into the game until the second half, and even then were unable to make the most of the scant chances they had against a strong Tulsa back line, while the mistakes they made in their defensive half were punished severely in a third loss this season to the Scissortails.

Key moment

Taylor Calheira’s close-range finish shortly before the hour-mark gave the Scissortails a two-goal lead that they never looked likely to relinquish, extending their home winning streak to six games.

Key stat

FC Tulsa remained undefeated this season when scoring first across the regular season and playoffs, moving to 17-0-3 overall and 11-0-1 at home as they prepare to host the 2025 USL Championship Final.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Taylor Calheira, FC Tulsa – The 23-year-old scored a pair of goals while recording nine shots and four shots on target to provide an attacking threat throughout the night, leading his side a dominant victory.

Scoring Summary
TUL – Taylor Calheira (Jamie Webber) 39’
TUL – Taylor Calheira 57’
TUL – Jamie Webber (Alex Dalou) 76’