Box Score Some teams might be a little put out after playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer. Not the Wayland Baptist women's team . . . not against John Brown University.
"That's the best we've ever done against John Brown, so I'll take the tie tonight," Wayland coach
Shiloh Posey said after the Pioneers and Golden Eagles battled to a 0-0 double-overtime sister-kisser on Thursday evening in Sooner Athletic Conference action at Hilliard Field.
Indeed, the Pioneers (7-5-1 overall, 1-2-1 SAC) have never beaten John Brown (6-3-1, 2-1-1) in six, make that seven, meetings. And while they've yet to prevail against the Golden Eagles, Posey said the Pioneers were more competitive Thursday than they've ever been against the visitors from Siloam Springs, Ark. In fact, Wayland has only scored one goal in the history of the series, being outscored 25-1. That includes a 4-0 loss last year and a 7-0 decision two seasons ago.
"The girls played their hearts out tonight," Posey said. "John Brown is a bit young this season like we are, so there might have been a bit of nerves on both sides. That's the most even team we've played all season, and it was a well-played, very clean game, maybe the most even, 50-50 split match I've ever seen."
The match's statistics bear that out as both teams ended with 15 shots, although Wayland had twice as many shots on goal, 8-4.
Cerila Zamarripa was the most active of the Pioneers, coming off the bench to take four shots, three of which were on goal.
Katherine Teinert had three shots, one on goal, and both of
Emarie Holland's shots demanded saves.
Posey was pleased with the Pioneers' consistent team play.
"I've never seen them work as well together for an entire game," he said.
Both teams had several prime scoring chances, but couldn't convert any of them. The Golden Eagles outshot Wayland 4-2 in the two 10-minute extra periods.
Posey said the Pioneers' spirit increased the longer the match went on.
"Once we knew we could stay with them, our confidence really picked up," the coach said.
It marked the first scoreless tie in the six years since the WBU women's soccer program was restarted in 2007. The only other time it happened in eight previous seasons was against McMurry University in 2003.
The Pioneers, one win away from posting their most successful season ever, next play Rogers State at 11 a.m. Saturday. Like John Brown, Wayland has never beaten Rogers State in five meetings. Rogers State (9-3-1, 1-2-1) also will be coming off a tie, 1-1 in double-overtime Thursday against Lubbock Christian (12-1-1, 2-1-1).
"Rogers State is a very physical, offensive-minded team," Posey said. "We'll have to pay attention on defense and make sure we don't give away" any easy goals.
Saturday's match will be the next-to-last home outing of the season for Wayland, which travels to Mid-America Christian and Oklahoma City next week before hosting Science and Arts of Oklahoma in the regular-season finale on Oct. 27.
Soccer vs. JBU Gallery
