Pioneers denied upset of No. 3 MACU

On the verge of knocking off the NAIA's third-ranked team, Wayland Baptist surrendered goals just 27 seconds apart, and the Pioneers let Mid-America Christian off the hook as the Evangels escaped with a 2-1 victory Tuesday evening at Hilliard Field.
 
Wayland was hoping to hand MACU (14-0, 6-0 SAC) its first loss of the season. Instead, it wound up being the first Sooner Athletic Conference setback of the season for Wayland (7-4-2, 3-1-2).
 
After a scoreless first half, Hector Romero gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead just 96 seconds after intermission when his cross deflected off a MACU defender and into the net.
 
The Evangels immediately stepped up their pressure defensive and attacking offense even more, and it finally paid off with goals by Luan Cesar at 73:13 and Cesar Ramirez at 73:40.
 
Wayland got off three shots after that, but none were on-goal.
 
The Pioneers took 10 shots total four fewer than MACU. Just two of Wayland's 10 were on-goal, while the Evangels had half of their 14. WBU keeper Ilkkan Sahin was credited with five impressive saves.
 
Eight different players took WBU's shots.
 
The Pioneers will look to get back on track when they play their final regular-season road match in Waxahachie at 3:30 p.m. Saturday against last-place Southwestern Assemblies of God University (3-8, 0-6). That will be followed by two tough home matches against No. 25 Southwestern Christian (8-4-1, 2-2-1) and Oklahoma-Panhandle State (9-2-1, 5-1-0), ranked the equivalent of 39th in the NAIA.