Box Score PORTALES, N.M. -- The Wayland Baptist men's soccer team kept its record perfect and extended its program-best start to a season by defeating Eastern New Mexico University here Wednesday, 3-1.
"We fought very hard today against an excellent Eastern team that is excellent going forward," Wayland coach
Jamath Shoffner said. "Eastern is a tough place to play, so I am pleased to come away with a win."
The Pioneers (6-0) held a 2-0 lead at halftime following goals by
Vitalis Atemafac and
Lamin Sawaneh. Atemafac notched his first goal of the season in the 29th minute after a corner kick and a scramble in front of the net.
Miguel Teos got the assist. Sawaneh scored 70 seconds later from 35 yards out in the right corner of the net, with an assist to
Trey Hart. It was Teos' second goal of the season.
The Pioneers made it 3-0 8 1/2 minutes into the second half when
Jevaughn Vance recorded his third goal of the year on a shot from close to 45 yards out.
"We had three timely goals that took some pressure off us in the game," Shoffner said.
ENMU (5-3) got on the board in the 60th minute, but couldn't close the gap any further. It was only the third goal allowed by the Pioneers in six games.
Wayland took nine shots, four on goal, while ENMU got off a dozen shots, also getting four on goal as Pioneer keeper
John-Ramses Thomas made three saves.
Although the Pioneers won here in an exhibition game earlier this season, it was Wayland's first official win over ENMU in the soccer program's four year history. The teams tied 1-1 in double overtime a year ago after ENMU posted 4-1 victories the two prevoius seasons.
Wayland returns home to host another strong NCAA Division II team, Incarnate Word University, at 1 p.m. Sunday at J.V. Hilliard Field. The Cardinals (4-2) have won their last four outings after two season-opening losses in Golden, Colo., to Fort Lewis College and Colorado School of Mines. IWU's wins include two over Sooner Athletic Conference opponents (Southern Nazarene 5-0 and Oklahoma Christian 4-2), then No. 13 West Texas A&M (4-0) and Our Lady of the Lake University (4-0). The Cardinals will be in Wichita Falls on Friday to take on Midwestern State University.
"Sunday is going to be an extremely difficult game against one of the very best teams in D-II," Shoffner said.
