Box Score CHICKASHA, Okla. – In yet another thriller for the Wayland Baptist men's soccer team, the Pioneers went the distance with 20
th-ranked Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Tuesday evening at Drover Field, but a second-overtime penalty kick by Liam Madden sealed the Pioneers' fate in their first Sooner Athletic Conference match, 3-2.
"Tonight we played really well. We had two mistakes and they scored two goals," disappointed WBU coach
Cristhian Ospina said. "Our guys showed a lot of character and we really played as a team. I'm really proud of that. "
Despite being down 2-0 at halftime, the Pioneers (4-3-2 overall, 0-1 SAC) came back in the second half with goals from junior
Taval Whittaker and senior
Arturo Valle-Sardaneta. Whittaker scored during the 59
th minute while Valle-Sardaneta scratched with 11½ minutes left in regulation.
At the end of regulation, the score was still tied, and it stayed that way after the first 10 extra minutes, sending Wayland into its third double-overtime match in its last five outings.
The Drovers (8-2) took advantage of a foul in the box against Wayland, and with 3½ minutes remaining on the clock Liam Madden ended it with a penalty kick.
"USAO is really good at playing their game, which consists of long balls and winning second balls. They're also really good at set pieces, and that's how they scored in the game – two corner kicks and one penalty kick," Ospina said.
The Drovers edged the Pioneers in shots, 24-23, and also penalties, but the last foul on the Pioneers is what cost them. Wayland collected seven cards in all – five yellow and two red.
"We were the best team tonight," Ospina said.
The Pioneers will look to get back in the win column in Fort Worth on Saturday at 5 p.m. against the Texas Wesleyan University Rams (6-3). In the last three contests between the teams, Wayland has won two.
"We have to fix our weaknesses and concentrate on the next game," Ospina said.
