Box Score After having the lead late and allowing Eastern New Mexico to tie them in their last match, the Wayland Baptist men's soccer team rebounded with a much-needed victory over Texas-Permian Basin on Monday evening at Hilliard Field, 1-0.
The Pioneers (3-1-2) earned their second home win of the season in front of a crowd of 75 at Hilliard Field.
"(In the) first half they outplayed us," WBU coach
Cristhian Ospina. "(But in the) second half we changed the game with one or two touches to make the game faster."
Wayland didn't get off to a fast start, but a goal from freshman
Emmanuel Emmas at the 52-minute mark, assisted by junior
Taval Whittaker, was just enough to pull out the win.
"Emmas had a good game today," Ospina said of the underclassman, who has already made big contributions to the Pioneers this season.
Another freshman who has been making his mark this year is
Alex Castillo.
"Alex is good at all positions," said Ospina.
Castillo came off the bench in the game after senior
Travis Somersall was injured in the second half.
"He came in and played middle forward for us and he played well," Ospina said.
Wayland was also the more aggressive team with 21 shots compared to UTPB's 6. Eight shots came from Whittaker and 5 came from junior
Yago Xavier.
The Pioneers, coming off of two consecutive 2-2 double-overtime ties, came up big at home, and Ospina has high hopes for the team the rest of the season, knowing the Pioneers will need to play better.
"We get comfortable too easy," he said. "We're still far away from where we want to be."
Although it's early in the season, the Pioneers already have their sights on the Sooner Athletic Conference championship. Their next match will be noon Sunday against Our Lady of Lake University in San Antonio.
Â
