Box Score
The last time the Wayland Baptist men's soccer team played past regulation, the match ended in a tie after 20 extra minutes.
David Neuberth made sure that didn't happen again at J.V. Hilliard Field on Thursday night when the Pioneers went into overtime against Eastern New Mexico University, scoring the game-winner just 1:12 into OT to give Wayland a rousing 2-1 victory.
"We wanted it really bad," Neuberth, of Sykesville, Md., said of the win. "When we went to overtime the last time (against No. 4 MidAmerica Nazarene in the season-opener) nobody scored, so we were hungry for it."
Neuberth spun away from freshman teammate
Juan Sanchez as the two broke down the pitch. Sanchez, of San Angelo, deftly dropped the ball to Neuberth, who faked an ENMU defender and scored the goal from about six yards out.
"Chino (Sanchez) had a nice weight on the ball, and David made a good diagonal run. They had really good timing," WBU coach
Jamath Shoffner said. "David's angle to score was not very good, and the (ENMU) guy tried to press him, but David made a nice cut. It was a good finish."
Neuberth became the first Pioneer with multiple goals this season. A first-team junior college all-American last year at Howard Community College where he netted 31 goals, Neuberth also scored in Saturday's 2-0 win over Huston-Tillotson.
"Juan is really solid at playing wing," Neuberth said of his teammate who was credited with the assist – his team-best third of the season – on the game-winner. "I made the right move and he made the right pass."
Neuberth, who played the entire match, also credited his coaches for having the team in great shape.
"That makes a big difference, especially when you go to overtime," he said.
Shoffner agreed.
"When we go to overtime our guys feel confident because they know we are fit," he said.
After a scoreless first half, the Pioneers (2-1-1) broke the deadlock 78½ minutes in when
Renato Dos Anjos, a first-year transfer from Iowa Western Community College, scored on a penalty kick. Less than a minute later, though, ENMU (0-1) tied it up on a free kick goal by Andy Wilkinson from 30 yards out.
Both teams put four shots on goal. Neuberth attempted a team-high three of Wayland's 13 goals. The Greyhounds were credited with eight shots.
John-Ramses Thomas picked up the win in net.
The Pioneers next take the field on Tuesday against rival Lubbock Christian University in a doubleheader with the women starting at 2 p.m. in Lubbock. While LCU is no longer a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference with Wayland having moved to NCAA Division II, the match figures to still hold a lot of fierce competition.
"They're not in our conference now, so it'll be different, but it's still LCU," Shoffner said. "We expect a good match. LCU is a hard place to play."
Under new coach Matt Barnes, the Chaps opened the season Thursday with an impressive 6-1 home victory over University of the Southwest (Hobbs, N.M.). Billy Forbes, a junior forward from Turks & Caicos by way of Western Texas College in Snyder, scored a program-record four goals in the match. Forbes was SAC Player of the Year two years ago before being redshirted last season.
Shoffner would love to see a nice Wayland crowd on hand in Lubbock after another solid show of fan support against ENMU.
"We've had fantastic crowd support so far from students and the community," the coach said. "That really helps our players to perform at a higher level."
Neuberth, although a newcomer to Wayland and unfamiliar with the extent of the rivalry with LCU, understands Tuesday is a big match for the schools.
"I know a couple of players on their team," Neuberth said. "I look forward to playing them."
