Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY – It took less than half-a-minute for the Wayland Baptist University women's soccer team to get a goal, then 89½ minutes to make it stand up as the Pioneers defeated Mid-America Christian University here Thursday afternoon, 1-0.
The victory gave Wayland (8-6-1 overall, 2-3-1 SAC), despite a roster depleted by numerous injuries, its record eighth victory of the season, eclipsing the seven wins posted during the 2008 season. It also likely secured a spot in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament for Wayland, coach
Shiloh Posey said.
"This should guarantee us a spot in the tournament," he said. "Now it will just be a matter of seeding."
WBU freshman
Jessica Bell scored the game's lone goal. The Pioneers started with the kickoff and went to work right away, playing the ball up the center of the field and then to the right wing where
Sarah Castro put a foot on it.
"The ball came in across the 18, took a funny bounce off a defender's foot and popped up in the air," WBU coach
Shiloh Posey said. "Jessica scored in the back corner of the net."
After being shut out in their last two matches, Posey said the Pioneers "practiced a lot on finishing this week," and Bell did an excellent job of making the shot count. "She took her time and found the right spot."
It was Bell's sixth goal of the season.
After that early scorel, the teams battled to a scoreless draw.
"It was pretty much a 50-50 game after that," Posey said. "We were able to hang on. The girls did a good job of keeping the ball in front of them, playing good defense and getting back."
MACU (7-7, 2-3) outshot Wayland 16-11, but the Pioneers got eight shots on goal compared to the Evangels' seven.
"Courtney (Chambers) made some great saves," the coach said
Posey couldn't say enough about his entire team's performance, especially in light of injuries to four of the team's most productive players -- including three starters -- to injuries.
One injured Pioneer, freshman
Tori Nimtz, also was bothered by a sciatic nerve condition but played anyway.
"She did a great job of fighting through that," Posey said. "She played through a lot of pain and put in a great effort."
He said
Natalie Stahmann and
Jordan Nelson had excellent defensive efforts, shutting down two of MACU's better players.
"And the midfield worked well together. We're a little bit short there right now because that's where some of our injuries are. Madison (Abbott), Sarah and Jessica all did a tremendous job."
In addition, Kat (Teinert) and Cerila (Zamarripa) "did a great job of defending balls coming out of the back. They really helped us out on defense and on the attack."
Posey also praised
Zoe Benson and Hailey Hill. "They held the center of the defense together really well and gave a lot of good instruction."
Mary Achebo-Totty, normally a substitute, played a vast majority of the game, and
Megan Huerta "came in and did a good job.
"I really can't say enough about how they all did," Posey said. "It was a good team effort all the way around."
The Pioneers will stay in Oklahoma City to faces No. 8 Oklahoma City University (12-1, 3-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Stars were set to play Lubbock Christian later today.
"That's going to be a tough battle, but we're going to enjoy the day and time we've had and try to get ready for Saturday," Posey said.
Wayland ends the regular-season by hosting Science and Arts of Oklahoma at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.
