Box Score The Wayland Baptist men's soccer team battled Southwestern Christian in a grueling, back and forth 110 minute battle Friday night, and even though the Pioneers didn't exactly get the result the wanted, they still met one of their season goals. Wayland tied the Eagles, 2-2, locking up a home match in the opening round of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament next weekend.
"Earning the right to host a SAC playoff game was one of our goals from the start of the season," head coach Cristian Ospina said. "I'm proud of our guys for accomplishing that."
Wayland (11-5-1) will either be the three or four seed going into the conference tournament, but it is waiting to see how the final regular season matches turn out Saturday to know who they will host.
In Friday's match, the Pioneers took a one-goal lead on the Eagles (11-4-2) on two occasions, but SWC answered both times.
David Neuberth, who has missed significant playing time over the past month due to an injury, was finally cleared to play a full match Friday, and the Pioneers needed him in a big way.
With just 13 seconds remaining in the first half, Neuberth received a pass from
Yago Xavier in heavy traffic, but was able to shoot to the bottom right corner of the goal to give Wayland a 1-0 lead going into the second half.
The Eagles tied the game 10 minutes into the second half with the first of two incredible goals.
Southwestern's James Roberson was facing away from the goal, but flicked the ball behind him to Daniel Roberts who was able to head the ball in, tying the game, 1-1.
In the 75
th minute,
Renato Dos Anjos gave WBU the lead off a beautiful free kick from 30 yards out. Dos Anjos kicked the ball over the wall to the right side of the net where the Eagles' keeper got a hand on it, but the ball bounced of the post and into the goal, giving Wayland a 2-1 lead.
The Pioneers' lead would be short lived, however, after a foul on Wayland gave SWC a free kick from 40 yards out.
Adam Kay took the free kick for the Eagles, sending the ball into the box where Milan Milicevic headed a shot into the top left corner to even the score, 2-2, less than a minute after Dos Anjos' goal.
"They are a really good team and were very organized," Ospina said. "They play an English style type of game where they sit back and wait, and then counter. They didn't have a lot of chances, but they made the most of their opportunities."
Wayland outshot the Eagles, 15-11, but SWC was on target six times compared to WBU's five.
"I'm proud of the way that we played tonight," Ospina said. "We had to work hard for our goals. Renato and David both had great games and good shots, we just didn't get the result we wanted as a team.
"We have to find a way to manage the game better and keep the other team from scoring. We would go ahead, but then give up the lead right after that. This was a good match between two good teams, but I would like to see us play at a high level more consistently."
Part of Wayland's success Friday, and for the season, was due to exceptional play from its seniors, Dos Anjos, Neuberth,
Mamadou Sanon, John-Ramses
Thomas, and
Colt Welch. The Pioneers five seniors have helped bring the Wayland soccer program from the bottom of the conference to the top over the past two to four years.
After a 3-29 record in its first two years, those five seniors have helped lead Wayland to 43-21-3 record over the last four years, and will now host a SAC playoff game for the third-straight season.
"I'm really glad that tonight was not the last home game for our seniors," Ospina said. "I'm really proud of them. Not only are they really good athletically, but they are our leaders."
The Pioneers will host either John Brown (8-6-2) or Texas Wesleyan (6-6-3) Saturday at J.V. Hilliard Field. The game time of Saturday's match will be announced early next week.
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