Box Score MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Wayland Baptist men's soccer team traveled to Montgomery, Ala., over the long Labor Day weekend to see how they matched up against some of the best competition the NAIA has to offer. The Pioneers proved their worth against both No. 2 Auburn-Montgomery and No. 25 Belhaven, Miss., but dropped both matches, 1-0.
Wayland fell to Auburn-Montgomery, 1-0, Saturday, and to No. 25 Belhaven on Monday, once again just missing out on another win.
With less than four minutes remaining in double overtime, Belhaven's Nicolas Cornejo took the ball from the far side of the field and crossed it past the WBU defense to Victor Lawrence, who came up with the game-ender 106 minutes into the match, securing a Blazer win.
The long, tight match is what WBU head coach
Cristhian Ospina hints could have been the dagger for the Pioneers, who he said need to work on their endurance.
"We have to work on getting in shape," Ospina said. "By the end of the match, our guys were pretty tired."
The Pioneers (1-2) outshot the Blazers, 12-11, but Belhaven (1-1) had seven shots on goal compared to none for WBU.
"We didn't score on the chances that we had and we didn't play organized," Ospina said. "From the beginning of the match we didn't play good. We didn't do what we were supposed to do, and when you're playing a top-25 team, they are going to take advantage of the opportunities you give them."
Wayland keeper
John-Ramses Thomas picked up six saves and
Juan Sanchez led all players with six shots.
Lawrence and Craig McCabe led the Blazers with three shots apiece.
The Pioneers return home for their next match as they they host Our Lady of the Lake at 1 p.m. Saturday at J.V. Hilliard Field.
"This week we're going to change up a couple things, and hopefully we can do better for our next match," Ospina said.
