Pioneers can't make early goal stand up

Hector Romero notched his eighth goal of the young season just two minutes after kickoff, but Wayland Baptist couldn't connect again the remainder of the match as the Pioneers suffered their first loss to Texas-Permian Basin on Thursday evening at Hilliard Field, 2-1.

The NCAA Division II Falcons, who are not playing any official games this fall due to COVID-19 and considered this outing a scrimmage, tied the match with a goal in the 13^th minute then got the game-winner 56½ minutes in when the ball went into the net out of a scrum right in front of the left post.

The Pioneers had no fewer than four great chances to score but couldn't get any through the posts. UTPB goalkeepers Alfonso Aragon and Jerry Bohl combined for seven saves, many of them from close range.

"Goals change games and I think we would have a different conversation after the game had we converted our chances," WBU coach Robert Ssejjemba said. "We did have good moments in the game in which we had control but those moments did not last. Also, UTPB gave us a physical challenge that we struggled to deal with sometimes."

The Pioneers (2-1) took 17 shots compared to the Falcons' 10 and had twice as many shots on-goal, 8-to-4. Romero, who led the NAIA in goals-per-game going into the match and whose eight total goals is fourth in the country, blasted a team-high five shots for Wayland, including four on-goal, while Elton Tettey came off the bench for four. Marco Manoli, who assisted on Romero's goal, and Stefano Pesce took three shots apiece, with two of Pesce's on-goal and one of Magnoli's. Ryan Naidoo also had one on-target attempt.

"Each team we have played so far has given us something different to evaluate in our game and that's really the goal. We want to improve as we go," Ssejjemba said.

The game was the first event at Wayland since its no-spectator policy, brought on by COVID-19 concerns, was enacted earlier this week.
Wayland is now 5-3 all-time against UTPB.

The Pioneers return to the pitch at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 in the second game of a women's/men's doubleheader at Hilliard Field against Oklahoma-Panhandle State. That will mark the midway point of Wayland's seven-game fall schedule.