On Tuesday afternoon the Baker University men’s soccer team jumped to No. 4 in the NAIA Top 25 poll after defeating No. 19 Vanguard Friday and Southern Nazarene University on Saturday.

Fourth is the highest ranking for the men’s soccer team in the history of the program. In addition, the squad remains at the top of the HAAC with a 4-0-1 record for the season.

Baker dominated early in its game against Vanguard at North Park until the Lions tallied a goal late in the first half. Vanguard was awarded a penalty kick on what players and fans believed to be a questionable call.

Baker didn’t waste time issuing its rebuttal, however, as just two minutes later senior captain Matt Germain scored on a diving header from six yards out. Senior Kome Okiomah set up the goal after pushing the ball past his defender and swinging in a driven ball behind the defense. The goal was Germain’s first goal of the season.

“It was my favorite goal I’ve ever scored,” Germain said.

The goal was celebrated with Germain sprinting toward a large crowd on the north touchline.

Shortly after, junior Clay Stanger scored on a deflected ball giving the ‘Cats a 2-1 lead to wrap up the first half. Baker remained defensively strong throughout the second half as junior goalkeeper Alex Burton tallied six saves. The penalty is the lone goal the returning all-conference goalkeeper has given up this season. Baker won the match 2-1.

On Saturday Baker played Southern Nazerene University at a neutral site, Lone Elm Park, in Olathe. The Wildcats came out striking against a persistent SNU defense but neither team was able to score in the first half.

“We pressured them in the first half of the game but we didn’t finish some of our early chances,” head coach Nate Houser said.

Ten minutes into the second half Okiomah was able to put away a goal putting them in the lead 1-0.

“We really tried to exploit our speed especially with Kome’s matchup in the second half,” Houser said.

Just ten minutes later SNU responded with a goal. The score remained 1-1 until the end of regulation, when the game went into an overtime period. With just minutes left in overtime, freshman Ethan Bauer was able to put a lobbed ball at the top of the box in the net to win the game for Baker.

"It wasn't the prettiest goal I've scored in my career," Bauer said. "To have my first goal of my college career be the game-winner against a team like that is pretty special."<br/>