Pioneers fall short; need win over 2nd-place Aggies in regular-season finale

The Wayland Baptist men's soccer team could have nailed down a home match in the first round of the fast-approaching Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament with a win Tuesday over Southwestern Christian University.
 
But the Pioneers dropped a tight 1-0 decision, so now they'll need to knock off second-place Oklahoma-Panhandle State to assure themselves a post-season outing at Hilliard Field.
 
Ranked the equivalent of 28^th in the NAIA, Southwestern Christian made a goal in te 13^th minute stand up, even playing the final 12½ minutes a man down.
 
The Eagles (10-4-1, 4-2-1 SAC) got the match's lone goal when a mistouch by the Pioneers allowed Cristian Teejay to work the ball around his defender then put the ball on the far post.
 
SCU prevailed despite not taking a shot the entire second half and only four overall.
 
Wayland (8-5-2, 4-2-2) ended with nine shots, including five on-goal, all of which Eagle goalkeeper Santiago Esparza handled. Marco Magnoli fired four of WBU's shots, the last – with just 20 seconds left – a blast from the middle of the field some 20 yards out that Esparza was able to smother.
 
It was the fourth time this season Wayland was held scoreless.
 
SCU survived playing the last 12½ minutes with only 10 on the field after a red card was issued in the 77^th minute.
 
The Pioneers play their final regular-season match at 7 p.m. Saturday at home against OPSU (10-2-2, 6-1-1), which needs a win to catch first-place, third-ranked Mid-America Christian (15-0-1, 7-0-1). The Aggies, ranked the equivalent of 38^th in the NAIA, and Evangels recently tied on Tuesday in Oklahoma City, 1-1.
 
If now third-place Wayland wins, it will host a first-round match in the SAC Tournament on Friday, Nov. 5. If the Pioneers lose, they could be passed by SCU and John Brown (6-9, 4-4) and finish fifth and be on the road in the first round.
 
SCU has matches remaining at John Brown on Saturday and at Texas Wesleyan on Monday.