BROWNWOOD – Wayland Baptist got goals from five different players as the Pioneers ended a two-game skid with a convincing 6-0 victory over Howard Payne here Saturday afternoon.
"It was good to see different guys step up, especially as we adjust to playing differently without many of our starters due to injuries," WBU coach
Robert Ssejjemba said. "Today we were patient and took our chances. I thought it was a well-controlled game in which everyone managed to participate."
The Pioneers, who evened their record to 3-3, got three goals in the first half and three more in the second. All three WBU victories this season have been shutouts.
Samba Gnokane scored twice for Wayland, giving the newcomer four goals on the season and tying him with
Marco Magnoli for the team lead.
Gnokane's first goal saw him meet
Leonardo Amaral's cross from the left. Gnokane chested the ball into the net on the near post. The goal in the 37
th minute was followed just over a minute later with Gnokane's second, which he finished off a chipped ball from
Lewis Richmond.
Chris Moses scored the first goal for WBU in the 23
rd minute, coming on a header after a corner kick by
Ryan Naidoo.
Senior
Hector Romero made his season debut and, in his return from a lingering injury dating back to last season, managed to get a goal on a header from a cross from the right side by
Leonardo Marini. The goal came in the 51
st minute, then seven minutes later Richmond scored on a long-range shot outside the box.
The final goal of the day came in the 82
nd minute wen Luis Soares released
Antonio Menendez with a defense-splitting pass which Menendez met, beating the oncoming goalkeeper with a low shot into an empty net.
Ilkkan Sahin and
Brandon Duarte were in goal for Wayland, combining for three saves on seven shots by the Yellowjackets (2-4-1). The Pioneers offered 18 shots, half of which were on-goal. Romero fired four shots and Gnokane three.
Next for WBU is a home match against Jarvis Christian at 7 p.m. Thursday. That will be the Pioneers' final tune-up before the start of Sooner Athletic Conference play a week later on the road against Texas Wesleyan.
