Box Score AUSTIN – Wayland Baptist took a two-goal lead then held off Huston-Tillotson the entire second half to post a 2-1 season-opening victory in men's soccer action here Sunday afternoon.
WBU coach
Cristhian Ospina, while happy with the win, wasn't pleased with his team's overall performance.
"It's always good to win, but I wish we would have won in a different way," Ospina said. "We looked a bit disorganized. We have a lot of individual talent, but didn't work as a team."
Wayland's first goal came from senior
Arturo Valle-Sardaneta, who dribbled past a couple of defenders in the middle of the field before putting it through. Junior
Taval Whittaker was credited with the assist.
"It was a good individual play from Arturo," Ospina said.
The Pioneers went up 2-0 on a goal by freshman
Emmanuel Emmas, who after a cross from Valle-Sardaneta and a rebound from the Rams goalkeeper stuck it home.
Huston-Tillotson (1-1-1) got on the board with about five minutes left before intermission on a penalty kick.
Neither team scored in the final 50 minutes.
"We should have scored at least five goals, and (Huston-Tillotson) had some chances that they shouldn't have," Ospina said.
Freshman goalkeeper
Palemon Plancarte picked up the win over the Rams, who previously defeated Mary-Hardin Baylor, 1-0, before tying University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, 0-0. Huston-Tillotson finished last season 3-12.
"Palemon looked OK, but needs to work on several things, like his communication and being more confident," Ospina said.
"As a team we have to work on our conditioning and, again, working as a team both offensively and defensively.
The Pioneers return to the pitch at 7 p.m. Tuesday when they play their home-opener against McMurry. Ospina said the War Hawks will provide a tougher challenge than they faced Sunday.
"We have to keep working on these things and don't make the same mistakes again."
