GOODWELL, Okla. – Wayland Baptist's men's soccer team has played to double-overtime in its last three matches, and the Pioneers now have all three possible outcomes.
In its Sooner Athletic Conference opener, Wayland battled to a 1-1 tie with Oklahoma-Panhandle State here Tuesday as both teams picked up late goals in regulation before going scoreless in 20 extra minutes.
Wayland (5-2-1, 0-0-1 SAC) got on the board first when Marco Magnoli, assisted by Leonardo Amaral, scored with just over 21 minutes remaining in regulation. The lead didn't' last long, though, as the Aggies (2-4-3, 0-0-2) answered with their own goal less than three minutes later.
The Pioneers had a couple of scoring chances in the waning minutes, one by Amaral and another with just over a minute left by Alessandro Felizzola.
Defense mostly ruled overtime as neither team was credited with a shot in the first extra period. The Aggies finally got one off 2:20 into the second overtime, but Wayland goalie Gonzalo Santa saved it. Wayland then had a couple of late chances, the first one by Elton Tettey which was saved and another by Jesus Chilion that went wide in the closing seconds.
The Pioneers fired 15 shots compared to OPSU's eight, with six on-goal shots for Wayland and four for the Aggies. Magnoli booted one-third of Wayland's shots with two on-goal, while two of Hector Romero's three offerings were on target. Santa was credited with three saves.
Wayland's previous two matches also were double-overtime affairs. The Pioneers lost to Hardin-Simmons on Feb. 6, 1-0, and defeated USAO on Nov, 6, 2-1. All three have been on the road.
Wayland returns to Oklahoma on Saturday to take on Oklahoma City University at 3 p.m. The Stars play their first match of the season on Wednesday at Central Christian.
