Storm delay helps spur women's soccer to historic win

Box Score Farmers usually are the ones praising a good rain, not soccer coaches. But on Friday night, Shiloh Posey had nothing but good things to say about a thunderstorm that halted play and, ultimately, served to push the Wayland Baptist women's soccer team to an historic victory.
 
On a night when senior Emarie Holland scored twice to break a program record for most goals in a season, the Pioneers overcame a slow start to win their Sooner Athletic Conference opener at J.V. Hilliard Field over Mid-America  Christian University, 3-1. Posey said it's the first time the Pioneers have ever won a conference opener.
 
"We came out (after a rain delay) and were able relax and finally just played," Posey said. "We came out in that last 15 minutes and played like we normally play."
 
Having fallen behind 1-0 on an empty-net goal by the Lady Evangels (5-2, 0-1 SAC) with just under 16 minutes left in the first half, Wayland (6-3, 1-0) seemed a bit out of sorts.
 
"We were playing nervous and tight and that caused us to give away a goal that we probably shouldn't have," Posey said. "We've been working all week on mental preparation and being ready, and I think maybe tonight we were so mentally in our heads that we played more nervously. We had an excitement and desire to win so badly that we just didn't relax very well.
 
"We played tightly and a little apprehensively, and we were overreacting instead of being patient. Basically, we just struggled."
 
Holland calmed the team's nerves a bit when she scored her ninth goal of the season on a header that originated from a corner kick with seven minutes left before halftime. Annysa Plata was credited with the assist.
 
Holland's ninth goal of the season matched a program record for most in a season, first set by Randi Thornhill way back in 2002, the year after Wayland started women's soccer.

With the score knotted at 1, the Pioneers still weren't themselves after intermission, Posey said.
 
"We were still struggling a bit with nerves," the coach said.
 
Then came the rain delay with just under 16 minutes left on the clock and the scored still tied at 1. Posey said the Pioneers finally relaxed during that break and came out and played like the team he knows.
 
"We moved the ball around and were patient and disciplined," he said.
 
And unselfish, too.
 

With 10½ minutes remaining, Holland scored again from about 15 yards out, taking sole ownership of the season goals record with her 10^th. Plata was credited with another assist on the game-winner, as was Madison Abbott.
 
Again on a corner kick, Abbott took the rebound and "instead of just hurrying off a shot and missing an opportunity, she made a very, very unselfish play," Posey said. "Emarie was able to put the ball away, but I want to commend Madison for being so unselfish and being such a team-oriented player. That assist is what gave us the game."
 
The Pioneers put in an insurance goal with about seven minutes to go, this time with Holland giving up the ball on a breakaway to Kendall Fraley, who Posey said "was able to finish with a very nice left-footed goal in the top corner" for her first goal of the season.
 
Like Abbott on the previous goal, Posey praised Holland for her unselfishness.
 
"Those two instances epitomize what our team is about, and that's each other…teamwork," the coach said. "They want to keep winning games as much as they want their own statistics. They're doing the little things for each other that cause them to be successful. When they struggle they keep picking each other up, and when they're successful they keep encouraging each other."
 
Posey said the win was the first time in the program's 10-year history that Wayland started conference with a victory.
 
"I'm glad to be a part of it," he said. "The girls are working hard and you can feel the excitement in the team.
 
"I know it's a cliché, but this really was a total team effort tonight," he added. "Even the girls who didn't get to play really contributed. I want to commend each one of them for the effort they've been putting in."
 
Wayland next plays the University Science & Arts of Oklahoma (1-6, 0-1) at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Chickasha prior to returning home to take on three-time defending SAC champion Oklahoma City University at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. The Stars (4-3) open conference play on Saturday against Southwestern Assemblies of God University.