WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS – Vincent Bailey (Southport, Eng./King George V) would not let the visiting Incarnate Word men's soccer team lose on Friday night at #13 Midwestern State.  He sent the game to overtime with a goal at 88:05 and then sent the Cardinals home euphoric with his third goal of the night in sudden death overtime to lead the team to a 3-2 victory. (box score)

For Bailey, it was the first hat trick of his career and it could not have come at a better time for the junior.  It gave the Cardinals (5-2, 2-0) a second straight victory over a nationally ranked team, kept the squad undefeated in Lone Star Conference play and most importantly it gave the team a win over the archrival Mustangs (3-1-2, 0-1).  It was the first loss at home for the Mustangs in 45 games.

"Overall, I was delighted with the win, because it was the type of team performance where even a tie would have felt like a loss," said head coach Vince Martinez.  "It was great to see our guys celebrate after the game too--having spent another 105 minutes at Midwestern State on the receiving end of constant taunts from their fans, I was proud to watch us celebrate in such a classy manner." ."..

The game winning goal came in the second overtime after neither team was able to score in the first extra 10-minute period.  Midway through the second overtime stanza Tenny Adebowale (London, Eng./Filton College) slotted a pass through the defense to give Bailey a break-away opportunity that he converted at 105:39.

The Mustangs were able to score the initial goal of the game.  Len Smith took a cross from the right wing by VcMor Eligwe and gave MSU a 1-0 lead at 43:25.  The Cardinals tied the game 33 seconds later on Bailey's first goal of the night in a similar fashion after receiving a cross from the right wing from Placide Buduri (San Antonio/Old Dominion).

In the second half, the Mustangs took the lead early in the half when the combination of Eligwe to Smith worked again at 51:59.

After falling behind 2-1, the Cardinals applied serious pressure to the Mustang defense, but goalkeeper Ray Clark was playing well preventing a goal.  Bailey finally got the equalizer on the team's 13^th shot of the half.  Adebowale gave him a short cross inside the box that he hammered into the net at 88:05 setting up his overtime heroics.

The Cardinals took 23 shots with 14 on goal and were awarded four corner kicks in the contest.  The Mustangs took 13 shots with eight on goal and earned six corner kicks.

Bailey's three goals give him a team-high eight on the season while the two assists by Adebowale were his first of the season.  Jerrod Kahan (Houston/Clear Brook HS) made five saves and picked up his fifth straight win in goal.

Clark finished with 10 saves on the night.

The Cardinals are back in action on Sunday at Wayland Baptist at 1 p.m.
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