Jessie, a 5-foot-3 freshman goalkeeper from Deltona, Fla., came up with one of several clutch play in the women's soccer team’s historic shootout victory against 13th-ranked John Brown University in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
After making seven saves in the Pioneers' regular-season finale against Texas Wesleyan, Jessie stepped aside for teammate Maci Merket when the Pioneers traveled to Siloam Springs, Ark., to take on JBU, a team Wayland has never beaten in 19 all-time match-ups. After Merket recorded nine saves in 110 minutes through double-overtime, Rivera was inserted in goal for the shootout by coach Shiloh Posey, who said that was the pregame plan because Rivera “is fearless at diving,” a much-needed skill at stopping PKs.
The move paid off right away when a diving Rivera got two hands on JBU's first PK. "Jessie blocked that first ball and something told me this is our night," Posey said. "That was stupendous. She did an outstanding job."
The Pioneers went on to win the shootout, 4-2.
