Tulsa, Okla. – This afternoon the 20th ranked Columbia College men's soccer team was back in action when they traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to take on the top ranked and defending NAIA National Champion Wayland Baptist (Texas) University in a nonconference matchup. The Cougars were able to upset the top ranked team in the country by a final score of 2-1 for their first win of the season to improve to 1-2 on the year.
In the first half of the game, both side came out and had a tough time controlling the possession due to wet conditions on the field. The Cougars were able to settle in as the half progressed and created several scoring opportunities including four corner kicks and a shot off the post but were unable to find the back of the net as the score remained 0-0 at the halftime break. Columbia College outshot Wayland Baptist 7-4 in the period and put two shots on target.
The Cougars came out in the second half and were able to control the tempo early. They were able to find the back of the net just seven minutes into the period when Ryan Harrisskitt played a ball out of the back to Ximo Gil. Gil headed the ball onto the foot of Parker Moon who beat the Wayland Baptist goalie and slid it into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.
The Cougars continued to push the tempo after the goal and were able to pick up another goal just four minutes later to take a 2-0 lead in the game. Mako Makoanyane received the ball on the sideline before cutting towards the middle of the field and playing the ball to Ximo Gil. Gil was able to make a quick turn and fired a shot off the crossbar. The ball bounced off the crossbar into the middle of the box where Parker Moon was waiting to head the ball into the back of the net for his second tally of the contest. Wayland Baptist made it interesting and were able to cut the lead to 2-1 with just under 13 minutes to play but the Cougars were able to hold them off down the stretch to solidify their first win of the season.
Ryan Harrisskitt was in goal for Columbia College recording six saves in the game.
The men's soccer team is back in action on Tuesday, September 11th when they open up conference play against the Central Baptist (Ark.) College Mustangs. The game is set to start at 7 p.m. on R. Marvin Owen's Field.
