Often when rival teams meet on the field of play, coaches say that statistics and past results between those teams prove meaningless. They also say the same thing about post-season contests.
So in the case of Wayland Baptist's men's soccer match against Lubbock Christian in the first round of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament, it could be said that statistics and past outcomes are doubly meaningless.
The third-seeded Pioneers (11-4-2) and sixth-seeded Chaparrals (7-6-3) are set to square off at 6 p.m. Saturday in the first round of the SAC Tournament at J.V. Hilliard Field. Video streaming will be broadcast at www.wbuathletics.com.
“We hope all the community and school will come out and rally around our team as we head into post-season," Wayland coach
Jamath Shoffner said.
Saturday's game – the first men's post-season soccer home match in school history – comes just four days after the teams met in the regular-season finale on the same pitch, where Wayland won, 1-0.
“When the conference tournament starts, everything goes out the window. And with LCU, we know it's going to be a battle,” Shoffner said after Tuesday's match. “We know Saturday is going to be a totally different game because the loser goes home. We know it's going to be really tough and I'm glad we're playing at home. Since we just played them, it could help us because we're familiar with them or it could hurt us because we're too familiar.”
The only goal scored in Tuesday's game came from
Miguel Teos at the 17:33 mark, although the Pioneers had plenty of other chances to score. WBU finished with 11 shots, including four on goal, compared to LCU's five shots, including three on goal.
Shoffner hopes the Pioneers – who have received votes in the past several NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Polls and this week are the equivalent of No. 32 – can convert a few more of their scoring chances Saturday and advance to the tournament semifinals, thus continuing the most successful season in the four-year history of the WBU men's soccer program.
"Going into the season, a goal of our program was to be able to host a conference tournament game. We are very excited to be able to host, but we know how difficult of an opponent LCU is going to be,” Wayland coach
Jamath Shoffner said. “They are very organized and tough to break down as well as physical. They also have some talented players that gave us some trouble last game, so it will be something for us to concentrate on.”
If they win Saturday, the Pioneers advance to the semifinals to face either second-seeded Rogers State (8-6-3) or seventh-seeded Oklahoma Baptist (6-8), which meet at 7 p.m. Saturday in Claremore, Okla. Wayland and Rogers State tied 2-2 in Plainview on Oct. 13, while the Pioneers defeated OBU, 3-2, in Shawnee in their conference opener Oct. 4.
The SAC tourney championship will be played at the highest remaining seed on Friday, Nov. 9. The winner advances to the NAIA National Tournament, which starts Nov. 26. Although a handful of at-large bids will be awarded to nationals, Shoffner said the only way for the Pioneers – despite having the second-highest rating in the conference behind No. 3 USAO – to advance is by winning the conference tournament.
Sooner Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament
At higher seeds, Nov. 3, 6 and 9
First Round, Saturday, Nov. 3
No. 8 Oklahoma City (8-6-3) at No. 1 Science & Arts Oklahoma (13-0-3), Noon
No. 5 John Brown (Ark.) (7-6-2) at No. 4 Mid-America Christian (Okla.) (9-5-2), 2 p.m.
No. 6 Lubbock Christian (Texas) (7-6-3) at No. 3 Wayland Baptist (Texas) (11-4-2), 6 p.m.
No. 7 Oklahoma Baptist (6-8) at No. 2 Rogers State (Okla.) (8-6-3), 7 p.m.
Second Round, Tuesday, Nov. 6
USAO/OCU winner vs. JBU/MACU winner at higher seed, Time TBA
LCU/WBU winner vs. OBU/RSU winner at higher seed, Time TBA
Championship, Friday, Nov. 9, at highest remaining seed, Time TBA
