PORTALES, N.M. – In their final outing before opening conference play against the No. 2 team in the NAIA, the Wayland Baptist men's soccer team saw Eastern New Mexico score two late goals to defeat the Pioneers here Wednesday evening, 2-1.
The game was scoreless for the first 63-plus minutes, until
Daniel Ruiz scored for the Pioneers (3-3-1). It was the third goal of the season for Ruiz, tying
Bryan Alfaro for the team lead.
The NCAA Division II Greyhounds (3-2-1), who played the match as an exhibition, then scored back-to-back goals less than two minutes apart in the final three minutes of the match. The first, by Ludwig Scherer, came at the 87:20 mark before Felix Drizinsky knocked in the game-winner with 52 seconds left on the clock.
Wayland ended with 13 shots, one fewer than ENMU.
Angel Rivas offered a match-high four shots. Besides Ruiz, other shots on-goal for the Pioneers came from
Luis Fernandez and
Harry Garbutt. WBU keeper Adriano Coppolechia ended with three saves.
The game was a replacement match for Wayland, which originally was scheduled to host Arlington Baptist on Thursday. That match-up was cancelled due to issues at ABU.
The Pioneers next open Sooner Athletic Conference play Tuesday in Oklahoma City against No. 2 Mid-America Christian (7-1). The Evangels' lone loss this season was on the road Sept. 3 against now sixth-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), 1-0. MACU has won four matches since then, all shutouts, by a combined score of 9-0. For the season, the Evangels have outscored their eight opponents, 22-1.
