Women's soccer denied elusive first win over No. 24 OCU

Box Score
Some days, a team does everything in its power and still comes out on the short end of things. That's what happened to the Wayland Baptist women's soccer team on Sunday afternoon against Sooner Athletic Conference foe Oklahoma City University.
 
"We played as well as we could, we just couldn't make it pay off," WBU coach Shiloh Posey said after the Pioneers fell to the 24^th-ranked Stars, 1-0. "There's a reason they're ranked No. 24, but at the same time I don't believe we got outplayed today. We played team soccer and did all we could. Our girls played their tails off.
 
"This is a bitter taste to swallow."
 
After a scoreless first half, OCU (6-3, 2-0 SAC) notched the only goal when Gianna Puskarich netted the ball high into the net in the 58^th minute, taking a pass from Allie Glazner on a free kick from midfield.
 
"You've got to tip your hat to her," Posey said of Puskarich, who hadn't scored before today. "She put it in the only place where we couldn't get it."
 
Wayland (7-4, 2-1) didn't have many scoring chances, credited with only three shots – none on goal – the entire match. OCU took 23 shots, six of which were on target. Emarie Holland offered two of Wayland's shots while Haley Reiser had the other.
 
Posey said the shots OCU's shot domination had to do with the Stars' athleticism.
 
"They have good athletes all over the field, and so you have to play extra defenders," he said. "They have all the physical characteristics and ability in the world, and they are very disciplined and very organized.
 
"We did all we could to defeat it," he added. "We got a couple of opportunities but just couldn't make them pay off."
 
After winning a conference opener for the first time ever and knocking off USAO for only the second time in history, the Pioneers were hoping to pick up another first against OCU. Wayland has never beaten the Stars, now in 13 meetings.
 
But the Pioneers know they are getting closer and closer to ending that streak.
 
"We're looking forward to our next game (3 p.m. Thursday at Northwood University) to hopefully get back on the winning direction," Posey said.
 
After Northwood (3-3-1, 1-1-1), the Pioneers stay in the Metroplex to take on Southwestern Assemblies of God University (2-7, 0-1) at noon Saturday. Wayland's next home match is 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 against St. Gregory's (5-3-1, 0-2).
 
Posey and the Pioneers are focused on Northwood right now, but in the back of their minds they're hoping to get another crack at OCU, possibly in the conference tournament, for a chance at earning that first elusive win.
 
"Hopefully we'll meet them again," he said, "and see if we can redeem ourselves."