Planview, TX — Following a dominant 7-0 victory over the Texas College Steers on Monday night, the Nelson Men's Soccer team looked to carry that momentum into the start of conference play against the Wayland Baptist Pioneers. However, the Lions fell short, dropping the match 4-2.
Nelson struggled to find its footing from the opening whistle, as Wayland Baptist came out firing on all cylinders scoring three goals within the first three minutes of the match. The early offensive surge put the Lions in a 3-0 deficit before they had a chance to settle into the game.
The Nelson defense managed to slow the Pioneers' attack after the early onslaught, holding Wayland Baptist scoreless for the remainder of the first half. The defensive effort kept the Lions within striking distance heading into the second half, leaving an opportunity for Nelson to mount a comeback.
That comeback began in the 66th minute when junior
Thyeim Shaw found the back of the net to cut into the deficit. Nelson continued to apply pressure, eventually earning a penalty kick in the 80th minute that
Joao Delgado converted to bring the Lions within one goal at 3-2.
With Nelson pushing for the equalizer late in the match, Wayland Baptist managed to put the game out of reach with a late goal, extending its lead to 4-2 and ending the Lions' comeback attempt.
Similar to the women's soccer match earlier in the day, Nelson matched the Pioneers in total shots, with both teams recording 13 attempts. The Lions also held the advantage in shots on goal but were unable to capitalize on their opportunities enough to complete the comeback.
Up Next
Despite the setback, there is still plenty of soccer left to be played this season. The Lions will look to bounce back and work their way into contention in the conference standings when they return home to face Texas Wesleyan on Tuesday at the Lions Athletic Complex in Waxahachie, Texas. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., following the women's match.
Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-NELSON.
