BROWNWOOD, TX - Sometimes, goals come in waves. Texas Wesleyan and Howard Payne proved that to the extreme Tuesday afternoon at Citizens National Bank Field.
 
After a scoreless first 56 minutes, the match saw three goals in two minutes and 36 seconds, causing a flurry of emotions for both sides. The Rams took the bigger advantage, with two goals in one minute and 7 seconds, helping Wesleyan to a 2-1 victory and a two-game win streak to start the season.
 
Zion Balogun didn't take kindly to the Yellow Jackets strike in the 57th minute and after a touch from George Battersby, Balogun ripped a goal from centerfield and in, a stunning goal that tied the game.
 
Wesleyan harnessed the momentum. One minute later, Diego Alvarez got a look at the goal, but the shot sailed wide. Keagan Da Silva earned a Rams corner kick and Lee Benting's header needed a save from HPU goalkeeper Andrew Hackney from losing the lead but a foul in the box on Howard Payne set up Alvarez with a penalty kick, which he delivered on to give Wesleyan the complete turn of the tide.
 
Howard Payne's last good look came in the 77th minute on a shot that sailed wide. The much-improved Rams lost last season in Brownwood, 3-2.
 
Howard Payne had the opportunities in the first half, getting a few shots early, springing Wesleyan goalie Bastian Blumenberg into action in the 7th minute. It turned out to be his only save of the day, as the Yellow Jackets were stifled by a back line that included Kian Hosseinpour, Jonathan Avila and Keagan Da Silva in the starting lineup.
 
After a Howard Payne look that sailed high in the 27th minute, the Yellow Jackets couldn't manage a shot attempt the rest of the half.
 
Howard Payne got their goal in the 57th minute off a Michael Westerman header. Claudio Barraza, Balogun and Benting had two looks on goal.
 
RAMBLINGS:
 
In six of the last eight Wesleyan victories dating all the way back to October 4, 2016, the Rams got a second half goal or goals to come-from-behind or break a second-half tie, including the match against their next opponent - Paul Quinn - last season. In that game, Wesleyan scored in the 60th and 77th minute to erase a 1-0 deficit.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
 
The Rams busy week out-of-conference continues Thursday with a road trip to Paul Quinn College in Dallas. The Rams next home game is Sunday against Our Lady of the Lake at 3 p.m.