Pioneers need urgency, intensity as play begins in Sooner Athletic Conference Tourney

Cristhian Ospina felt his Wayland Baptist men's soccer team lacked urgency and intensity the last time the Pioneers played Central Christian College (Kan.). The coach doesn't feel that will be an issue at 4 p.m. Thursday when the 23^rd-ranked, conference champion, top-seeded Pioneers square off against the Tigers at Hilliard Field in the first round of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament.

"We expect a really good game. They will come here with nothing to lose, so we have to be really smart about how we go into this game," Ospina said. "We cannot be over-confident."

Ospina no doubt will remind the Pioneers about the 2013 season, when Wayland was ranked No. 12 and owned the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament only to be upset at home by seventh-seeded St. Gregory's, 1-0. Ospina was an assistant coach on that team.

"We have to be humble in how we go into the game so we can get the result we need," he said. "We have to keep working hard and realize without winning the conference tournament, we can't go to nationals."

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Hilliard Field, where Wayland (14-2-1, 8-1-1 SAC) will play as long as the Pioneers – trying to return to NAIA Nationals after their first-ever appearance last season – keep winning. Semifinals will be Monday, Nov. 6 with the championship Thursday, Nov. 9.

Admission to all matches is free.

When SAC newcomer Central Christian (10-7-1, 3-6-1) visited Plainview for the first time Sept. 30 in what was the second conference match of the season, then No. 21 Wayland was without regular goalkeeper Ziggy Camejo. Fellow junior Hector Haros stepped in for Camejo and did a commendable job, plus got plenty of help from his teammates.

In Wayland's 2-1 victory, the Pioneers outshot Central Christian, 16-3.

In that match, Wayland took a 1-0 lead 4 minutes and 44 seconds in when Cooper Gaypia scored after a feed from Lochlan Reus. Ospina felt the Pioneers relaxed a bit after that, and the Tigers took advantage with a goal from Joshua Taylor – the SAC's fourth-leading scorer with 14 goals – 43 seconds before halftime.

Fortunately, the Pioneers scored (coincidentally at the exact same time as in the first half, 4:44 into the second half) on a goal by Raheem Fleming, assisted by James Quinn.

Ospina said Central Christian is a "really organized team. They sit back and try to score on one of your mistakes."

Not only will Camejo be back in goal for Wayland on Thursday, Ospina said a couple of other Pioneers – Gaypia and freshman midfielder Gavin Shiels, who have been out the last several weeks – also are expected to play.

That will help, as will playing at home where the Pioneers are 7-1 this season.

"I believe we're a strong team at home, so hopefully that can help us," said Ospina, who urged fans to come out to the match. "Please come and cheer. We need that."

A win would pit Wayland against the winner between fourth-seeded Science & Arts of Oklahoma (12-5-1, 7-3) and No. 5 seed Mid-America Christian (12-4-1, 6-3-1), who play Thursday in Chickasha, Okla.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 seed Southwestern Christian (14-4, 8-2), ranked the equivalent of 28^th, hosts seventh-seeded Bacone (9-7-1, 4-5-1) in Bethany, and No. 3 seed Oklahoma City (14-3-1, 7-2-1), ranked the equivalent of 39^th, entertains sixth-seeded John Brown (8-8-1, 4-5-1) in Oklahoma City.
  Quarterfinals
Thursday, Nov. 2
Central Christian (#8 10-7-1, 3-6-1) at Wayland Baptist (#1, 14-2-1, 8-1-1), in Plainview, Texas, 4 p.m.
Bacone (#7, 9-7-1, 4-5-1) at Southwestern Christian (#2, 14-4-0, 8-2-0, in Bethany, Okla.
John Brown (#6, 8-8-1, 4-5-1) at Oklahoma City (#3, 14-3-1, 7-2-1), in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Mid-America Christian (#5, 12-4-1, 6-3-1) at Science and Arts of Oklahoma (#4, 12-5-1, 7-3), in Chickasha, Okla.
 
Semifinals
Monday, Nov. 6
WBU/CCC winner vs. USAO/MACU winner, hosted by higher-seeded team
SCU/BC winner vs. OCU/JBU winner, hosted by higher-seeded team
 
Final
Thursday, Nov. 9
Semifinal winners, hosted by higher-seeded team