Luck might be changing for the Baker University men’s soccer team. The team won its third consecutive game by beating MidAmerica Nazarene University 3-2 Wednesday in a thrilling match on a moist North Park field.

The start of the game didn’t look promising for the Wildcats as MidAmerica Nazarene jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Both MidAmerica Nazarene goals came in the first 20 minutes of play.

“We were terrible for about the first 20 minutes of the game,” senior goalkeeper Bret Clark said. “We didn’t come out to play.”

The ‘Cats flipped the switch after that and changed the momentum of the game.

“About 25 minutes in, we turned it around and played like we are capable of playing for the rest of the game,” Clark said.

Junior midfielder Josh McDaniel said the insertion of substitutes by head coach Alan Koch changed the game.

“Our subs provided the spark that got us going,” McDaniel said. “Those guys came in the game ready to play and really stepped it up.”

The substituted players inserted in the game midway through the first half were senior forward Marty Johnson, junior forward Gerard Grehan and senior defender Nate Chiarelli.

“With those guys giving us a lift, we had the game leveled by halftime,” McDaniel said.

The first Baker goal came off the foot of junior midfielder Travis Moore.

About 10 minutes remained in the first half when Johnson made a run into the opponent’s 18-yard box where he was fouled by a defender. The ‘Cats were awarded a penalty kick, and Johnson scored the equalizing goal.

“After playing that badly to open the game, it was good for us to go into half tied,” McDaniel said.

The two teams battled throughout the second half until the ‘Cats took the lead.

Sophomore midfielder Matt Hodges made a run into the box with 10 minutes left and beat the goalkeeper for the eventual game-winner.

Clark made a final save with about five minutes left to preserve the game for Baker.

“The MANU forward caught me a little off-guard, and my view was kind of blocked, but then it popped out and I saw it well enough to fist it out,” Clark said.

On Saturday, the Wildcats beat Central Methodist University 4-0 at Liston Stadium. Senior captain Scott Appel led the team with two goals while Moore added two assists.

The team recorded its first win in its series of victories by beating Columbia College, 2-0, on Oct. 7 in Columbia, Mo.

Clark said the improved health of the team has been a key factor in the team’s recent success. In past few weeks, Appel, Johnson and Chiarelli have returned from various injuries.

“It’s nice having everybody back,” Clark said. “We have experienced just about everything a team can experience, all the ups-and-downs of a season.”

Appel said he felt the team was ready to make a run at the postseason.

“Lately we have turned it up and put ourselves in a good spot,” Appel said. “It’s a great time to be peaking. It feels good to win and keep winning.”

Clark agreed with his team captain.

“We have been playing well lately, and there is no reason we can’t keep winning. If we play like we can, we can win out,” Clark said.

Appel said his team shouldn’t look past its next game, which he said he sees is the most important game right now.

“We need to go out and take care of business on Friday,” Appel said. “Then we can worry about Wednesday.”

The team is scheduled to take on conference rival Benedictine College at 4 p.m. today in Atchison, Kan.