Stone, a 5-5 senior midfielder from Amarillo, came up with the last of several clutch plays in the Pioneers’ historic shootout victory against 13th-ranked John Brown University in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
After a 1-1, double-overtime tie, Graham was chosen as the fifth shooter in Wayland's PK shootout against the Golden Eagles. "Stone is a four-year senior who has been here through all of those losses to John Brown, so I wanted her to have a chance to be the hero," said coach Shiloh Posey, who didn't watch her shootout-winning shot. "I put my head down and listened to the reaction of the crowd."
Graham's shot was a roller to the right that got past the JBU keeper. "A roll counts as much as a hammer," Posey said. "For Stone to have this moment as a four-year senior… I hope she remembers it forever.”
While Wayland has never beaten JBU (0-15-4), this was the first time the Pioneers realized a "win" against JBU as the Pioneers advanced to their third SAC Tournament semifinal. The Pioneers (6-6-3) will look for their first trip to the tourney championship when they take on Texas Wesleyan at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Fort Worth.
