Pioneers underdogs, but still confident

With not a lot to lose but a whole lot to gain, the Wayland Baptist women's soccer team will be in Siloam Springs, Ark., Friday to face 16^th-ranked John Brown University in the first round of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.
 
As the No. 8 seed in the tournament going against the No. 1 seed, Wayland (4-10-2) isn't expected to win – at least by anyone outside the Pioneers' camp – against the SAC regular-season champion Golden Eagles (15-1-1). John Brown defeated the Pioneers when they met two weeks ago in Plainview, 5-0.
 
In fact, Wayland has never won against John Brown, which has beaten the Pioneers nine times in the 12 matches they've played; the other three outcomes were ties.
 
But while Wayland is in the definite underdog role Friday, according to head coach Shiloh Posey that's not the attitude his team is taking to Arkansas.
 
"We are going into it planning to win," he said. "That always has to be your mindset."
 
The Pioneers should draw confidence from the fact that they almost always seem to play John Brown close, especially in Siloam Springs.
 
Last year, the Golden Eagles pulled out a 2-1 overtime victory, and the year before the teams battled to a 0-0 double-overtime tie in Plainview. In both 2013 and '14, John Brown ended Wayland's season in the conference tournament, both times in Arkansas. The 2013 match went to a shootout, which the Golden Eagles barely survived, 4-3.
 
Posey said within the last week his team has been practicing really well and they are going to use the game experience they have with JBU going into this match.
 
"We know how they play and we want to work efficiently as a group and play a team game rather than defending them individually," the coach said.
 
Consistent with Posey and the team's normal mentality, they are looking forward to stepping out onto the field and playing how they know how to play.
 
"They believe they can do well and give themselves a chance to win this game."
 
Action begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday with coverage links available at www.wbuathletics.com.
 
The winner will face either Oklahoma City, the No. 5 seed, or fourth-seeded USAO in the semifinals on Tuesday.
 
SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
Friday, Nov. 4 - QUARTERFINALS
(8) WBU at (1) JBU, 5:30 p.m.
(5) OCU at (4) SGU, 1 p.m.
(6) MACU at (3) USAO, 7 p.m.  
(7) SCU at (2) TWU, 7 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 7 - SEMIFINALS
Winner 8 v 1 vs. Winner 5 v 4, hosted by higher seed
Winner 6 v 3 vs. Winner 7 v 2, hosted by higher seed
Friday, Nov. 11 - CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal winners, hosted by higher seed