Wildcats Secure Draw with Rocky Mountain to Wrap Labor Day Classic

BALDWIN CITY - No. 15 Baker men's soccer closed out its Labor Day Classic with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Rocky Mountain on a cloudy, drizzly Monday morning at Hartley Field.

The matchup was the first of two contests on the final day of BU's Labor Day Classic, a tournament that featured three nationally ranked programs and a competitive six-team field. All six teams in the event were .500 or better last season, including three teams who made the NAIA Tournament in Baker, Oklahoma Wesleyan and Missouri Valley.

Playing in rainy conditions for the second straight game, the first half was a battle for possession with few scoring chances either way until the Battlin' Bears broke through in the 36th minute to take the lead.

The Wildcats struck back in the 63rd, when Javaughn Barrett and Akira Itadani linked up with Noah Conover, who tucked away his fourth goal of the season to even the match. It was Conover's first tally since his hat trick in his Baker debut against McPherson in the season opener.

The Bears quickly regained the lead just five minutes later, but Baker answered again in the 76th. Evans Osei Amankwah delivered his second goal in as many games, heading in a corner kick from Chafik El Idrissi to level things at 2-2.

El Idrissi, in his first season with the Wildcats after transferring from Mount Mercy, delivered the corner that set up Amankwah's header. Both of his assists this fall have come on corner kicks, including Baker's very first goal of the season. Barrett and Itadani also recorded their first assists of the year on Conover's earlier strike.

All eight of Baker's goals this season have come from just three players — Conover (4), Itadani (2), and Osei Amankwah (2). The Wildcats also outshot Rocky Mountain 9-7 on the morning, marking the third time in four matches Baker has held the edge in attempts.

Rocky Mountain, which also battled to a 4-4 draw with No. 9 Missouri Valley on Saturday, finished the weekend unbeaten against a pair of nationally ranked Heart opponents. Baker won't face Missouri Valley until the final match of the regular season on Nov. 1 in Baldwin City.

With three results through their first four matches, the Wildcats now turn their attention to conference play. Baker opens things up with a home match against No. 8 MidAmerica Nazarene on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Hartley Field.

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