OC’s 3 seniors connect on winning goal in 2-1 win over Wayland Baptist

Will Binder’s golden goal lifted OC to a 2-1 win over Wayland Baptist.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 29, 2011) – Hollywood wouldn’t accept such a script, because it would be too improbable – three seniors, playing in their final home game, connecting on a dramatic game-winning goal in overtime to save their soccer team’s season.

But that’s exactly what happened Saturday. Neil Hilton’s throw-in went to Trey Boykin, who lightly headed it to Will Binder, who scored on a header in the 102nd minute to give Oklahoma Christian a 2-1 win over Wayland Baptist.

“That was the biggest goal of my life, really,” said Binder, whose parents, Danny and Helen Binder, made the long trip from their native England to watch Will play on OC’s Senior Day.

Not only was Binder’s goal the first such “golden goal” of the season for the Eagles, it kept them alive in the race for a berth in the eight-team SAC tournament. OC (8-5-4, 4-4-2 SAC) is tied for fourth in the SAC.

USAO, Lubbock Christian and John Brown all have clinched berths, leaving six other teams – including Wayland Baptist (7-7-3, 4-4-1) – battling for five spots. OC and Oklahoma City University each have 14 points while Rogers State, Wayland Baptist, Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist all have 13 points. But OC is finished with its regular season while the other five teams still have a game to play – and thus a chance to earn points.

For OC to make the tournament, they need one of four things to happen Tuesday – an OBU loss to St. Gregory’s, an SNU loss to OCU, a Wayland Baptist loss to Lubbock Christian or a Rogers State loss to John Brown.

The Eagles did all they could do Saturday to make sure they’ll have a postseason spot.

OC head coach David Scott, knowing his team needed to win to stay alive in the playoff race, was moments away from moving Binder – usually a defender – into attacking mode as the second overtime ticked away. Then the Pioneers knocked the ball out of bounds and Hilton made a long throw-in into the penalty box, where it first found Boykin’s head, then Binder’s.

“That was just a great finish,” Scott said.

It was Binder’s third goal of the season, while Boykin picked up his third assist. Boykin wasn’t expected to play because of a day-long engineering examination he had to take Saturday, but he arrived at the field just before introductions and played much of the game.

Hilton, who also assisted on OC’s first goal, also was awarded an assist on the winning play, giving him 11 on the season, tops in the SAC.

OC outshot Wayland Baptist 18-16 but it was the Pioneers who struck first. Keavin Faith’s free kick found Jevaughn Vance deep in the penalty box, and Vance’s left-to-right shot from a difficult angle found its way past OC goalkeeper Tim Spencer in the 55th minute.

The Eagles equalized in the 70th minute, as Sam Guernsey headed in a corner kick by Hilton.

Spencer made seven saves while Wayland Baptist goalkeeper John-Ramses Thomas had six.

EAGLE EYE BLOG

Chuck White’s final home game

This video features scenes from Chuck White’s final home game as OC’s head baseball coach. Coach White was the driving force in the revival of the baseball program and the construction of Dobson Field and the Bobby Murcer Indoor Training Facility.

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