(RV) Baker Clinches Heart Regular Season Title with 2-0 Win over Missouri Valley

BALDWIN CITY - (RV) Baker men's soccer secured its first Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season championship since 2017 after defeating Missouri Valley, 2-0, at Hartley Field here Saturday night.

The win capped a remarkable late-season run that saw Baker go unbeaten in its final 10 matches to turn its season around after back-to-back losses in mid-September. 

During that stretch, the Wildcats collected six shutouts and climbed steadily up the Heart standings to reclaim the league's top spot for the first time in eight years.

Baker struck first in the 20th minute when Ian Waindim capitalized on a long ball sent forward by Javaughn Barrett. The pass took a friendly bounce over the Viking back line, allowing Waindim to get a one-touch flick that popped over the approaching keeper and into the net for his third goal of the season. The early strike provided a lift that carried Baker through a composed first half, as the defense allowed just one shot on goal before the break.

The Wildcats maintained their control throughout the second half and found their much-needed insurance goal in the 82nd minute. Parker Hurla made a strong drive into the box on the far side, cutting toward the 6-yard line before firing a left-footed strike past the keeper to double the lead. It was Hurla's fifth goal of the season, which sits as the second-most on the team.

Baker controlled the tempo from start to finish, outshooting Missouri Valley 11-6 and holding them to just one corner kick in each half. Goalkeeper Maxot Arystanov made two saves to secure his sixth shutout of the campaign and the team's third in the last four matches.

For head coach Nick Aguilar, it becomes his first conference championship since taking over the reins from longtime head coach and Baker Hall of Famer Nate Houser. Aguilar has been a part of four Heart titles overall during his time at BU with three as a member of the coaching staff (2025, 2017, 2015) and one as a player (2011). It becomes the 14th overall conference championship for the Baker men's soccer program, which is the most among Heart schools.

Prior to the match, the Wildcats honored a total of 19 seniors for their contributions to the men's soccer program. Those players included Temitade Adedeji, Josh Tiffany, Joe Abrahams, Garrison Schrag, Gabriel Bringas, Sergio Soriano, Ethan Everhart, Joel Bollinger, Sam Castro, Julien DeAngelis, Abdul Rahman Jalloh, Pascal Brose, Camden Wiseman, Ian Waindim, Marco Salgado, Kaden Keller, Mo Salas, Dominik Foldesi and Iwan Roberts.

With the win, Baker closed the regular season at 12-4-2 overall and 9-3-1 in Heart play, clinching the No. 1 seed for next week's Heart Conference Tournament. The Wildcats will host eighth-seeded William Woods on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in the Heart Quarterfinals at Hartley Field.

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