Box Score
Two proven seniors –
Jose Hincapie and
James Westfield – both scored and assisted on goals to lead the Wayland Baptist men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Sul Ross State on Friday night at Hilliard Field.
The match marked the home-opener for the Pioneers (2-0), who won their season debut on Monday over University of the Southwest (N.M.) in Hobbs, 1-0.
"We got a step closer to where we need to be," Wayland coach
Robert Ssejjemba said.
Hincapie scored the first goal of the match, on an assist by Westfield, in the 36
th minute. The scored remained the same until 14 minutes after halftime when junior
Hector Romero found the back of the goal. Hincapie was credited with the assist.
The Lobos (0-2), who lost their season-opener to St. Thomas-Houston, 1-0 in overtime, cut their deficit in half with a penalty-kick goal in the 74
th minute against freshman keeper
Juan Basabe.
The Pioneer defense hung tough until Westfield, assisted by
Adir Versano, was able to tack on an insurance goal in the 87
th minute.
Wayland outshot SRSU, 18-7, getting nine shots on-goal compared to four for the visitors.
"We need to be more clinical in front of the goal," Ssejjemba said. "If we can put the ball away (more often) we'd be able to play the way we want to. Right now it's a bit difficult to play just holding on.
"But the guys did a good job digging deep and getting the win. I was happy with the response from the guys. They kept playing and trying to score goals."
The Pioneers are back on the road for their next two matches, first in San Antonio to face Our Lady of the Lake at 2 p.m. Monday. Then on Friday Wayland will be in Austin to take on Huston-Tillotson.
"Out-of-conference games are an opportunity to be able to identify different areas we need to improve on, so we'll get back on the field and try to look at those areas and correct them. It's best to go through them now and deal with them, and know how to solve them. That will be the best scenario for us," Ssejjemba said.
The Pioneers' next home match is Sept. 17 against Howard Payne in another doubleheader with the women's team.
