Men’s Soccer Drops Midweek Match to Pirates, 2-1

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – After going unbeaten in six of its first seven home matches, the Baker men's soccer team fell for the second straight time at Hartley Field with conference foe Park stealing a 2-1 result versus the Wildcats on Wednesday night in Baldwin City.

The Wildcats scored within the game's first six minutes to take an early 1-0 lead, but the Pirates notched back-to-back goals with the game-winner coming just minutes into second half play.

Baker held a slight advantage in shots with a 12-11 margin, while earning nine corner kicks compared to the six by the Pirates. Gyorgy Kamaras recorded a match-high four shots for BU with two of his landing on goal.

It was Hunter French who delivered the game-opening goal after teammate Tony Salas was able to find him slipping behind the Park backline on a run in the sixth minute. The captain French fired home his seventh goal of the season to give Baker the early 1-0 favor.

Then, in the 19th minute, the Pirates drew things even with a long pass from their defensive half leading to the game-tying goal.

The Wildcats earned some opportunities midway through the first half with a shot by Kamaras from just outside the six-yard box that ricocheted off the charging Pirates keeper resulting in back-to-back corner kicks for BU. On the latter set piece, Iwan Roberts' low cross found Tony Salas, but Salas' shot sailed high.

With the match at a 1-1 deadlock going into halftime, the Pirates scored the decisive goal in the 48th minute. Park's Filip Andonovski had an initial pass deflected by the BU defense, but the rebounding ball fell right into the lap of Andonovski who put it in the back of the net to give the Pirates the 2-1 lead.

Gunning for the equalizer, the Wildcats had a couple of scoring chances late in the match, beginning with a corner kick in the 87th minute that ended up at the feet of Sahal Arwo, but Arwo's shot landed off target.

Then, in the final minute of action, a free kick taken by Roberts from 20 yards out turned into heartbreak for the Wildcats as the Welsh midfielder had his shot clang off the crossbar, wiping out a last-minute equalizer for BU.

Setting up French's goal in the first half, the elder Salas earned his third assist of the season to give him and his brother Mo Salas (4) a combined seven assists in 2023.

The Wildcats are back in action this weekend as they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on Grand View on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

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