Soccer set to open conference play

Wayland Baptist men's and women's soccer is off to two of the most successful starts in school history, including the first Top 25 ranking in program history for the men's team. While that's all well and good, coaches Jamath Shoffner and Shiloh Posey understand that the proverbial saying that, "It's not how you start, but how you finish," couldn't be more true.
 
"It's a great achievement as a program whenever you are recognized on a national scale. We have been working extremely hard for our program to continuously get better and feel we are moving in the right direction," Shoffner said after the men's squad, which is 5-1-1 and on a five-match win streak, was ranked 20^th in this week's NAIA poll. "However, we also realize that we have a long way to go to reach our goals as a team and program. While rankings at this time of the year are good, we know that we can't settle and feel good about ourselves because we haven't even started SAC play yet."
 
Likewise, Posey has been preaching to the women's team, which is 5-3, that their season is a continuous journey. Now, with the start of conference play just ahead, that ride shifts into the next gear.
 
"The last eight games we've played have just been practice for this point," Posey said. "It's given us an opportunity to prepare for what's coming."
 
What's coming is Mid-America Christian University at 5 p.m. (women) and 7 p.m. (men) on Friday at J.V. Hilliard Field.
 
"We're expecting a solid performance in front of our home crowd," said Posey, whose team should be well-rested after a 10-day layoff from game action. "We have a lot of excitement about what's coming up and look forward to the challenge against MACU."
 
Mid-America will bring to town solid men's and women's teams. The Evangels are 3-1-1, with the tie being a 1-1 double-overtime deadlock with NCAA Division I Oral Roberts University, while the Lady Evangels are 5-1 and on a five-match winning streak, having outscored opponents in those wins, 20-3, including three consecutive shutouts.
 
"Every game in the SAC is intense and we know MACU will be no different on Friday," Shoffner said. "They have had some good results in their non-conference games and are a program that keeps getting better every year."
 
The Pioneers lost to MACU last season in Oklahoma City, 3-2 in overtime. Wayland has defeated the Evangels only once in four meetings.
 
While the WBU men are riding a conference-best five-match win streak, the Wayland women will be looking to regroup after dropping three of their last five outings following three wins to open the season. The Pioneers were blanked in all three of their losses, which included one NCAA Division I team (Abilene Christian) and a pair of NCAA D-IIs (Angelo State and No. 24 Southwestern Oklahoma State.)
 
Posey said he's been working on the mental aspect of the game after feeling that the Pioneers lapsed a bit in that area in their most recent outing on Sept. 20 against SWOSU in Weatherford.
 
"That was our sixth game in a 14-day period, and mentally and physically we were worn down," he said. "We've been concentrating a lot on the mental approach to practice because I feel like we let down mentally during that game."
 
Posey likes how the team has responded.
 
"The girls have had a couple of really good days of practice, and I do think we're ready," he said, adding that Friday's match will provide a good test for the Pioneers.
 
"It's big in that respect, and big also in that it's at home and a chance to get the start of conference off on the right foot. We've talked about the season being a journey, and so far I feel like we've done a good job of that."
 
The coach said while MACU has "a solid record, I believe our (preconference schedule) was a bit more challenging. I think we're well-prepared for the challenges they may bring to us, and I think we have a good opportunity to play well against them."
 
Wayland topped the Lady Evangels last year, 1-0, on then freshman Jessica Bell's goal 29 seconds into the match. MACU leads the all-time series with Wayland, 4-2-1.
 
Both Shoffner and Posey hope Pioneer fans will turn out in force on Friday for the SAC openers. All WBU soccer matches offer free admission.
 
"This is a big doubleheader…a chance to start everything off on the right foot," Posey said. "We encourage all of our supporters and fans to come out and add their voices to our efforts."