The men's soccer game between Wayland Baptist and Oklahoma Christian was about as evenly played as it could get until the 101st minute when the Eagles' Will Binder scored the game-winner to allow his team to walk away with the 2-1 double overtime victory. It was the sixth time this season that the Pioneers have played into the second extra period.
In the opening 45 minutes both teams got off eight shots. The Pioneers had a slight advantage getting one more of those shots, 5, on goal than the Eagles, but neither team actually put the ball past the goal line.
Wayland made a dent in the net first when Jevaughn Vance scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season almost 9:30 into the second period.
OC tied it up at the 69:40 mark on a goal by Sam Guernsey and that is the way it would remain until Binder put an end to things not quite 40 minutes later.
WBU got off seven shots in the second period, compared to six by the home team, but the Eagles outshot the Pioneers 3-1 in the first overtime, and had the one shot in the second OT. Both teams finished with eight shots on goal.
With just one more game left in the regular season, Wayland coach Jamath Shoffner and his team find themselves in a pack of five teams vying for the final four spots in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. The Pioneers are 7-7-3 overall and 4-4-1 in league action.
Shoffner said his team didn't match the intensity of OC, which was honoring its seniors in their final regular season contest. "They were in a must-win scenario and it was Senior Day. We gave up two of the softest goals that we have given up all year. Now we have to regroup and get prepared to play LCU."
The Chaparrals, 11-3-3 overall and 5-2-2 in conference play, are assured of a spot in the conference tourney. The Pioneers, on the other hand, own the tie breaker over just two of the other four teams after those coveted postseason berths. A win on Tuesday in Lubbock against LCU, however, would virtually assure WBU of one of those spots. That game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.