PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Junior
Westley Hankes scored the game-winning goal with less than two minutes remaining as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's soccer team (4-4-1, 1-0-0 WIAC) beat UW-Stevens Point (5-5-0, 0-1-0 WIAC) by a score of 3-2 on Saturday evening inside Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.
The Pioneers scored the first two goals of the match, with junior
Aiden Hatleberg netting the only goal of the first half in the 36
th minute. Hankes and sophomore
Keegan Maxfield assisted on Hatleberg's first goal of the season.
In the second half, senior
Luke Hogle scored his third of the season in the 51st minute following a corner kick from senior
Justin Williams. UW-Stevens Point responded by scoring back-to-back unanswered goals in the 61st and 74th minutes to tie the game at two apiece.
As time wound down in the second half the Pioneers created one more scoring chance that resulted in the game-winning goal. Sophomore
Roberto Salinas sent a pass towards Hankes, whose header beat the keeper to the far post to break the tie. The goal was Hankes' fourth of the season, and his second game-winner.
UW-Stevens Point attempted 14 second-half shots to finish with an 18-14 advantage for the game. UW-Platteville held the slight edge in shots on goal at 8-7. Hogle and Hatleberg shared the team lead with three shots each for the Pioneers.
Sophomore
Connor Waite earned the win in goal and made a career-high five saves.
The Pioneers will be at home on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against St. Olaf.
