Pike's first-goal header puts WBU back on track

Alex Pike put in a header on a corner kick in the 78^th minute to give Wayland a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Friday night at J.V. Hilliard Field.

"I thought we lacked a bit of creativity in the first half and we were not aggressive enough on the ball. In the second half we came out stronger with good movement on and off the ball and patient build-up from the back," Wayland coach Robert Ssejjemba said.

The Pioneers (3-1) were looking to get back to their winning ways after dropping their first game of the season a week earlier to Texas-Permian Basin, 2-1.

Although it didn't show on the scoreboard, Wayland certainly dominated the stat sheet which showed the Pioneers launching 20 shots compared to only four for the Aggies (2-2-1).

Eleven different Pioneers were credited with taking shots, led by Stefano Pesce's four and Alek Martinez's and Preston McKay's three each. Five of Wayland's shots were on-goal, while OPSU failed to have an on-target shot all game for Gonzalo Santa, making his first appearance of the season in goal for WBU.

After more than 77 minutes of scoreless soccer, Pike – a junior from Thunder Bay, Ontario, and a first-year transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M – notched his first goal as a Pioneer.

Santiago Hernandez placed a corner kick into the box where Pike headed it into the back of the net for the game's lone goal.

"I was glad for Alex on one of those occasions getting on end of the corner and giving us the winner," Ssejjemba said. "We were dangerous on set pieces and got on the end of them."

After four home games to open the season, Wayland hits the road for the first time this season for an Oct. 23 contest at Texas Wesleyan. The Rams took a 1-1-1 record into a road match Friday against Southwestern Christian.

"We came into this game aware of the need to get a result before we get on the road next week," Ssejjemba said.

Wayland is back at home Oct. 30 against Central Christian (Kan.) in a doubleheader with the women. The men will play the first game that day at 4 p.m.