Box Score
One goal early in the match and another late kept the Wayland Baptist men's soccer team undefeated in Sooner Athletic Conference play as the Pioneers shut out the Texas Wesleyan Rams on Saturday afternoon at Hilliard Field, 2-0.
"They were a tough team to beat," WBU coach
Cristhian Ospina said.
WBU (6-3-1, 2-0 SAC) didn't waste any time putting pressure on the Rams (4-7, 1-1 SAC).
Sophomore
Emmanuel Emmas netted the first goal, his fourth of the season, as he slipped one past Rams' goalkeeper Marko Jovanovic in the 2nd-minute to give the Pioneers an early lead.
"The first 30 minutes of the game were excellent," Ospina said of his team's effort and focus.
The rest of the half was scoreless, although Texas Wesleyan had several chances late.
Ospina credited his defense as well as Pioneer goalkeeper João Souza.
"I'm proud of the defense and the goalkeeper (Souza)," he said. "The other team had three chances and Joaoa and our defense and kept us in the game."
Late into the second half, after the Rams pulled Jovanovic from the goal for the second time in order to give the Rams an extra man in the box in an attempt to score and tie the match, WBU senior
Javier Parry kicked in an insurance goal on the open net. It was Parry's fourth goal of the season.
The Pioneers dominated the ball and possession by outshooting the Rams, 16-7, and held an 8-2 shot-on-goal advantage.
Although they won, Ospina said some minor mistakes must be fixed.
"This was a good game to learn from," he said. "We still have to improve on the little things."
Saturday's contest ended a seven-match home-stand for Wayland, which next travels to Shawnee, Okla., Tuesday for its first conference road challenge against St. Gregory's. The Cavaliers (4-5, 0-2 SAC) lost Saturday to Southwestern Christian, 1-0 in overtime.
"They will fight the entire 90 minutes and try to capitalize on our mistakes," Ospina said of SGU. "We have to be ready for everything."
