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Oct. 12, 2007

Box Score

CANYON, Texas - Senior Kenneth Christensen scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick while freshman Ben Everson scored twice and sophomore Aaron Thornton tallied a goal and an assist as the No. 22 West Texas A&M men's soccer team beat the visiting Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds, 5-3. Sophomore Adi Dzebic also scored for the Buffs as the men improved to 11-1 overall with a 4-1 Southwest Soccer Conference record.

Everson opened up the Buffs' scoring in the first half, scoring on an open net from two yards in front of the goal. Thornton set up the play, passing the ball from the right goal line to junior Itamar Keinan which pulled ENMU goalkeeper Leif Craddock off the line. Keinan dished it to Everson whose 11th goal of the season put the Buffs ahead, 1-0.

The Greyhounds struck back in the 30th minute when Edgar Bear took advantage of a misplayed ball by freshman goalkeeper Shane Taylor and equalized the match at one goal apiece.

Just 5:40 into the second half, Keinan passed the ball forward to Thornton on the right side of the box where he was tackled from behind, earning a penalty kick for the Buffs. Christensen took the kick, finding the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season and giving WTAMU a 2-1 lead.

Thornton scored next for the Buffaloes, taking a throughball from Brad Sanderson past two Greyhound defenders and drilling his shot to the left side of the net in the 63rd minute. Everson gave the Buffs a 4-1 advantage just 1:34 later when he took the ball away from an ENMU defender inside the box and beat Craddock to the left side.

Dzebic scored his first goal of the season off of a pass from freshman Colin Bjostad; he fired a shot from the right top of the box to the far post to put WTAMU ahead, 5-1, in the 71st minute.

The Greyhounds fought back, though, when Tyler Hart stole the ball at the top of the box and passed it to Andrew Perez who scored from just in front of the net.

Ryan Atkinson notched the final goal of the game in the 87th minute off of an indirect free kick less than one yard inside the center of the box. Jared Morris tapped the ball and Atkinson shot the ball to the top left corner out of junior goalkeeper Chris Chiakpo's reach.

Freshman Shane Taylor started the game and played 75:54 before Chiakpo replaced him to play the last 14:06 of the match. Neither Buffalo goalkeeper recorded a save in the win.

Craddock made six saves and allowed five goals in 90:00 minutes of play for ENMU.

West Texas A&M's next match is Monday as the Buffs travel to San Antonio to face Incarnate Word at 3:00 p.m.