Short-Handed No. 15 Baker Pushes No. 5 OKWU to the Wire in 3-2 Loss

BALDWIN CITY - On a rainy and physical night at Hartley Field, No. 15 Baker went toe-to-toe with No. 5 Oklahoma Wesleyan before falling 3-2 in Saturday's top-15 showdown to open the Labor Day Classic.

The matchup served as a rematch of last year's NAIA Round of 16 clash, where OKWU advanced in double overtime. This time, the Eagles again found a late winner, breaking a 2-2 deadlock with the deciding goal in the 84th minute.

The contest was as chippy as it was dramatic, with 15 total bookings handed out. Baker was forced to play a man down just seven minutes in following a red card, and the Wildcats ended the match with nine men after Mo Salas was sent off with his second yellow in the 80th minute.

OKWU struck first in the 24th, only for Baker to answer late in the first half. In the 40th minute, Evans Osei Amankwah rose to head home a cross from Utah Hester, notching his first goal of the season after a standout freshman campaign that featured five scores.

The Eagles regained the lead in the 53rd, but Baker pulled level again midway through the second half. Akira Itadani connected on a leaping volley off a cross from Marco Salgado in the 67th minute, giving the senior forward his second goal in as many matches. Itadani now has two goals this year after also tallying five in his debut season in 2024.

Oklahoma Wesleyan pressed its advantage all night, finishing with a 15-8 edge in shots, and capitalized on the two-man disparity to net the game-winner with six minutes left.

Despite the challenge, Baker's back line and midfield dug deep to keep the Wildcats in the match. Splitting time at right back, Hester and Salgado each registered their first assists of the season.

Suffering its first setback of the fall, Baker will look to regroup and close out its Labor Day Classic with a matchup against Rocky Mountain on Monday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. in Baldwin City.

The Battlin' Bears came away with a tie in dramatic fashion in the match prior to BU, securing a 4-4 draw with No. 9 Missouri Valley after Rocky scored the game-tying goal in the final 30 seconds of the match.

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