Soccer is a game of ups and downs and momentum swings. That played out on Saturday afternoon at the Graves Family Sports Complex in the spring opener for the Kansas Wesleyan men against MidAmerica Nazarene.
A first half goal, coupled with two quick strikes to open the second half gave the Coyotes a 3-0 lead. MidAmerica Nazarene then rallied late with three goals in the final 18 minutes to force overtime, as the match would end in a 3-3 draw.
Playing their first match since the season stopped back in mid-November, the Coyotes were ready to get things going. The Coyotes wasted little time testing out the goal area with a couple early shots.
In the 37th minute, the Coyotes got on the board. An initial shot by David Bellin (JR/Berlin, Germany) was saved by MNU but the ball bounced right to Ivis Gutierrez (JR/Los Angeles, Calif.) who finished the play putting the Coyotes up 1-0. That score would hold until the half.
The Coyotes got a pair of quick strikes to open the second half. David Bellin scored in the 47th minute getting past several MNU defenders and was able to finish from the left for the goal.
Luis Simbron (JR/Miami, Fla.) scored just over a minute later, as David Palacios (SR/Salina, Kan.) played a ball from deep on the right side back to the near post area about 12 yards out for the shot and score.
With the wind howling out of the south, ball control was key for both teams in the match.
MNU got on the board in the 72nd minute on a goal by Winder Pessoa, going one-on-one with the keepr and sliding his shot just inside the far post.
Pessoa scored again on a penalty kick conversion in the 80th minute, and four minutes later Rick Hovinga netted the equalizer on a set piece with the assist by Kevin Myftiu.
MNU had a chance at a game winner with 35 seconds left in regulation with an indirect kick inside the penalty area, but the shot was blocked by the Coyote defense.
After not much excitement in the first overtime, things got crazy in the second.
MNU had another chance to win it thwarted by the Coyotes. Pessoa had a point blank shot in the 102nd minute that was saved. Eduardo Picaso, Wesleyan's new goalkeeper then made a one-handed save while lying on the ground, and a defender was able to stop a third shot, and Hovinga's shot that finally eluded the defense went high.
KWU had a chance in the final minute but Omar Estrada (JR/Dodge City, Kan.)'s shot was just wide.
MNU outshot KWU 20-14 in the match. Bellin led the Coyotes with three shots, all on goal, and had a goal and an assist. Picaso had seven saves making his first collegiate start after joining the KWU roster at semester.
KWU plays next Saturday at Bellevue.
--kwucoyotes.com--