Thiel and the Pioneer Offense Dominate in 5-1 Win Over Tigers

PLAINVIEW, TX -- Wayland Baptist put on a dominant offensive display Saturday afternoon, cruising past Central Christian College, 5-1, to earn a key Sooner Athletic Conference victory at home.

The Pioneers (5-4-1, 2-2-1 SAC) wasted no time establishing control of the match, scoring twice in the first half before adding three more goals in the second. Wayland outshot the Tigers 20-13 and held a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal.

Senior midfielder Niklas Thiel set the tone early, scoring twice in the opening 31 minutes. His first came in the 23rd minute off an assist from Jamol Williams, and he followed with an unassisted strike eight minutes later to double the Pioneers' advantage.

After the break, Wayland continued to press. In the 70th minute, Francis Motsi extended the lead to 3-0, finishing a setup from Alvaro Pineda for his eighth goal of the season, putting him in a tie for the team lead.

Central Christian (2-7-3, 2-2-1) got on the board in the 85th minute when Kaspar Engelmann found the back of the net off a cross from David Montano Gomez, but the Pioneers quickly responded. Just 15 seconds later, Victor Herrera scored his first goal of the season on an assist from Motsi, and Bruno Silva capped the scoring in the 88th minute with a well-placed shot from distance.

Goalkeeper Alex Neri recorded three saves while anchoring the Wayland defense, which limited the Tigers to one goal despite several late efforts.

Motsi led the attack with seven shots and a goal, while Thiel added four shots and two goals. Williams, Pineda, and Herrera each contributed an assist as Wayland's offense found balance and efficiency across the field.

With the win, the Pioneers move to 2-2-1 in conference play and build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

Wayland Baptist returns to action on Saturday, October 18^th, when they hit the road to take on Science & Arts in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM.