Wayland Baptist went back-and-forth with Southwestern Assemblies of God University, coming out with a satisfying 3-2 victory in Sooner Athletic Conference men's soccer action on a chilly Tuesday evening at Hilliard Field.
Wayland (5-6-2, 2-3-1 SAC) took a 2-0 lead with first-half goals by
Daniel Ruiz and
Bryan Alfaro. Ruiz scored his fourth goal of the season with an assist by Alfaro, while Alfaro followed with his team-leading sixth goal with an assist by
Angel Rivas.
"We controlled the first half but dropped off in the second half, allowing SAGU to get back into the game twice," WBU coach
Robert Ssejjemba said. "In the second half we needed to suffer a bit to hold onto our lead."
That suffering started when the Lions got their first goal three minutes after intermission. Less than 10 minutes later, Wayland answered when
Jamie Rinquest put a solid head on a perfectly-placed corner from
Santiago Hernandez. It was Rinquest's second goal of the season.
Wayland's two-goal lead was cut in half again when SAGU's Juan Ambriz found an open goal after a deflected save from Pioneer keeper
Yoherlian Bejarano.
WBU managed to get through the remaining 18½ minutes without giving up another goal, but it wasn't easy as the Pioneers avoided several scoring chances for the Lions and a near own-goal.
Wayland outshot the visitors from Waxahachie, 17-7, with Hernandez firing four shots, including two on-goal. Seven other Pioneers had on-target shots to give WBU nine, compared to SAGU's five. Â
Bejarano improved to 2-1-1.
Wayland plays the second of a three-match home-stand at 4 p.m. Saturday against Texas Wesleyan (9-4, 2-3), which most recently defeated SAGU, 2-0. The Rams host Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Thursday.
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