Baldwin City, Kan.–Francis Koroma (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn., General Accounting) scored with 2:53 left in the second overtime as the William Penn Statesmen men’s soccer team knocked off #4 Baker 2-1 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Sunday.
WPU (8-5-1, 5-4 Heart) won its second game of the year against a top-25 program, having also defeated Midland 3-2 back on September 12.
The visitors exchanged blows with the Wildcats (11-2-1, 7-1 Heart), delivering BU its first league loss of the fall.
William Penn, which was only outshot 16-14, started slow by permitting a Baker goal in the sixth minute. The squad weathered the storm, though, to trail just 1-0 at halftime.
The navy and gold remained in a one-goal deficit midway through the second period, but managed the equalizer at the 75:26 when Diego Navarro (Fr., Madrid, Spain, Mechanical Engineering) scored off a pass from Joey Messina (So., New London, Wis., Information Technology). Navarro’s goal is his 12th of the fall.
Neither side could break the tie, forcing the second overtime game of the 2017 for WPU. The Statesmen continued to apply the pressure after regulation, dominating play to the tune of a 7-2 edge in shots.
WPU had chances to win in the first extra session, but finally finished off the come-from-behind victory with Koroma’s goal. Messina also assisted on the score; he now has three assists on the year, while Koroma has three goals to his credit.
Guillermo Pineda (Fr., Madrid, Spain, Business Management & Communications) kept William Penn in the game with six stops between the pipes.
“This was arguably the biggest win in school history, coming at one of the toughest places in the NAIA!” Head Coach Jaymee Highcock said. “We stuck to our game plan and more than deserved the win. I am so proud of our players today and this shows that we can compete with the nation’s best.”
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Monday to host Iowa Wesleyan in non-conference action at 7 p.m.
Story by Wade Steinlage, WPU Sports Information Director
