Box Score
"Carpe diem!"
That was Coach
Shiloh Posey's wish – "Seize the day!" – for his Wayland Baptist women's soccer team after the Pioneers settled for a 1-1 tie with the University of Texas of the Permian Basin on Monday evening at Hilliard Field. No overtime was played.
"We need to develop a take-the-win mentality," Posey said in response to Wayland (0-2-1) realizing its first lead of the young season in the first half only to give up a late penalty kick goal to the Lady Falcons. "When we get (ahead) we have to learn to manage the game and close it out.
"We have to develop more confidence as well as a consistent winning mentality."
In the Pioneers' home-opener after two road losses in Kansas, senior
Virginia Norwood – a former jumper for the WBU track and field team who joined the soccer squad late last season – put Wayland ahead when she muscled her way right in front of the goal on a high cross by
Chelsea Beaubouef. Norwood's first career goal came 36 minutes into the match.
UTPB (0-1-1), which lost its season-opener at home to Lubbock Christian, 2-0, tied it up after an unassigned handball was called on Wayland in the box. Ariel Roybal took the shot for the Lady Falcons and got it past WBU senior keeper
Bailey Stengler.
Posey said afterwards the officials did not know which Wayland player illegally touched the ball on the play that came following a corner kick.
Posey said the call and goal were unfortunate, but had the Pioneers taken advantage of other opportunities, that wouldn't have mattered.
The Lady Falcons outshot the Pioneers, 13-4, with Stengler credited with four saves. Three Wayland shots were on-goal. Besides Norwood's goal, others came from
Valeria Garcia and Beaubouef.
KayLynn Mireles also shot for WBU.
"I'm proud of the girls. The work we've done in practice the last week was evident in a lot of areas, especially the way they moved the ball," Posey said. "We still have work to do, but improvement is coming. We're coming along."
Wayland plays the second of a three-match home-stand at 6 p.m. Friday against Huston-Tillotson (0-1-0), which lost its season-opener to cross-town rival Concordia University of Austin, 2-1.
The Pioneers then entertain No. 21 Our Lady of the Lake University on Sept. 16.
