KANSAS CITY, Mo. – David Bellin (SR/Berlin, Germany) leapt over an Avila defender at midfield, and found Alfonso Lopez (JR/Fontana, Calif.) streaking down the middle of the pitch.
Bellin's perfectly placed pass and three dribbles and a shot later propelled the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Avila Eagles on Wednesday at the Zarda Multisport Complex.
The victory, the first in KCAC play for the Coyotes this season, and the first since KWU routed Doane on September 8, snapped Wesleyan's eight match losing streak.
All the scoring for both teams came after the first half.
Ivis Gutierrez (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) got the Coyotes on the board first in the 54th minute. Alfonso Lopez stole an errant Avila pass in the offensive third and found Gutierrez down the middle of the pitch and his shot was just inside the right post for the goal.
Avila tied it in the 79th minute on an unlucky play for Wesleyan at the right post. Oswaldo Diaz-Lopez (FR/Bryan, Texas) made an incredible initial save of a point-blank shot by Jeremiah Epps, but could not corral the ball that glanced off the post and in for the equalizer.
Just two minutes and three seconds into the overtime, the Coyotes got the play for the win. Bellin was able to gain possession and leap over an Avila defender who tried to make a slide tackle, but instead Bellin found Lopez over the middle for the game winner.
KWU outshot Avila 18-11 in the match. Three different Coyotes had three shots each. Diaz-Lopez had four saves in goal for the Coyotes in earning the win.
The Coyotes are back at home on Sunday at 2:30, hosting Bethany at the Graves Family Sports Complex.