Posey focuses on building chemistry

After an impressive run during the Sooner Athletic Conference season a year ago, Coach Shiloh Posey and the Wayland Baptist women's soccer team are in rebuilding mode for 2016. Despite losing much of his team to graduation, Posey is hoping for continued growth of the program with a few returners and lots of newcomers.
 
The Pioneers finished last season strong, winning four of their last five matches heading into the SAC Tournament then winning their opening round game of the tourney before bowing out in the semifinals. Wayland wound up with a 7-7-3 overall record and 5-2-2 mark in the SAC as seven seniors ended their careers last season, including two – Jessica Bell and Jodian Morris – who are among the finest the program has ever had. Morris and Bell rank second and third in goals scored in program history, with Morris notching 26, including a school-record 19 last season, and Bell, a four-year starter, 17.  
 
With those athletes' careers finished and shoes needing to be filled, Posey brought in some recruits, as well as some returners, to pick up the slack. The coach, now in his 10^th year as head coach, believes his team's cohesiveness and comradery will play an important role on how they will perform.
 
"(Last year) we had some offensive firepower and experience with all of those seniors," Posey said. "Some of these returners are going to have step up and fill in some pretty big shoes. Watching that group of returners gave me a really good sense of cohesiveness, and that's going to be absolutely vital that we use our group dynamic as efficiently as possible."  
 
The brightest spot for the Pioneers is returning the SAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Bailey Stengler. The senior from Illinois recorded 84 saves and three shut-outs in her junior campaign.
 
Beyond goalkeeper, Posey has switched things up to get everyone accustomed to playing different positions. He wants his team to become flexible in order to produce a successful season.
 
"We might need someone to change positions," he said. "Everybody is going to have to be more receptive to going with the flow of unexpected change. You have to see the big picture."
 
Another important factor for the Pioneers will be the approach and energy level in each practice in an effort to match game speed.
 
"The more familiar our team can be in game-like situations will be key for us," Posey said. "Also, developing a mentality of each game being more of a marathon than a sprint. We expect some mistakes and a learning curve for the newcomers. It's going to be a stepping stone process. Building one block after another from game to game."
 
Before they officially start their season Aug. 26 and 27 in Kansas against Friends and Newman, the Pioneers will have two preseason road scrimmages. The first will be at 2 p.m. Saturday against Lubbock Christian and the second at 7 p.m. Tuesday against West Texas A&M in Canyon. Wayland's first home match is Sept. 5 against Texas-Permian Basin.