Pioneers open playoffs at home Saturday night

Cristhian Ospina and the Wayland Baptist men's soccer team know what it feels like to be one-and-done in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. Unfortunately it happened last year when the Pioneers, after grabbing a share of the SAC regular-season title, were upset in the first round by St. Gregory's, 1-0.
 
Ospina and the Pioneers are determined not to let that happen again as Wayland hosts John Brown University at 7 p.m. Saturday at J.V. Hilliard Field. Live streaming will be available.
 
"This is a pretty even conference, and especially in the playoffs anything can happen," Ospina said.
 
Wayland (11-5-1) earned the No. 3 seed in the eight-team conference tournament after tying with Southwestern Christian and Texas Wesleyan for third place, each with 5-3-1 records. For seeding, the tie was broken by using head-to-head results between the tied teams, followed by goal differential within the conference. Because Wayland and Southwestern Christian tied each other and both beat Texas Wesleyan, the Rams were left as the No. 5 seed. WBU was awarded the No. 3 spot because of its plus-six goal differential compared to Southwestern Christian's plus-five.
 
John Brown (8-6-2 overall, 4-3-2 SAC) comes to town Saturday as the No. 6 seed, although the Golden Eagles might hold a psychological edge over the Pioneers because they defeated Wayland when the teams squared off Oct. 18 in Plainview, 2-1 in overtime. JBU's Martin Gonzalez scored the game-winner five minutes into the extra period.
 
"It was a pretty even game. Both teams played great," Ospina said. "Both teams were attacking, defending…both had chances."
 
Two of Wayland's top players didn't see action in that match as senior David Neuberth, the team's leading goal scorer with eight, and junior middle Pedro Lima both sat with injuries. Neuberth and Lima will be in the lineup Saturday night.
 
"It's always important to have those two, which also gives you more people on the bench," Ospina said.
 
At the same time, the coach acknowledged that the Pioneers will have to overcome the loss of second-leading scorer Taval Whittaker, who is serving a one-game suspension due to five yellow cards.
 
Still, the Pioneers are as healthy, focused and prepared to play as they've been all season.
 
"There are some small things we can correct and then we'll be at the point where we want to be," Ospina said.
 
Both the Pioneers and Golden Eagles come into the match on a bit of a roll. Wayland hasn't lost in its last three matches (2-0-1) while John Brown hasn't fallen in its last four (3-0-1).
 
While Ospina said it doesn't matter which team Wayland faces, or when, because of the conference's parity, he said it might be a positive that Wayland is playing a team to which it previously lost.
 
"It doesn't really matter, but I guess it's good to play (John Brown). The guys will be hungry, and we'll try to get the win this time.
 
"Hopefully we'll be more prepared since we've already played them, so we know what to expect."
 
The one factor about Saturday's match that Ospina said does make a difference is where it's being played. Wayland is hosting an opening round tournament match for the third straight year.
 
"Hopefully being home and having a crowd there will help us a lot," he said.
 
The winner will play either second-seeded USAO (14-3, 7-2), ranked 25^th, or seventh-seeded Oklahoma Baptist (7-10, 4-5) in the semifinals. The higher-seeded team will host.
 
The tournament champion will qualify for the NAIA National Championships, and Ospina said the SAC will only have one representative. No conference team is likely to earn an at-large bid.
 
"We'll have to earn our way," Ospina said. "It's going to be really hard, but the best team will go."
 
That said, "You never know. Last year we were No. 9 and got eliminated in the first round."