Federico Ucar scored 9½ minutes in, and Wayland Baptist made it stand up with its usual terrific defense as the 13
th-ranked Pioneers held off John Brown University in Sooner Athletic Conference play Friday night at Hilliard Field, 1-0.
The win was the eighth shutout of the season, and third in a row, for the Pioneers (9-2-0, 4-1 SAC).
Wayland allowed John Brown (5-6-1, 2-3) just five shots, only one of which keeper
Ziggy Camejo was forced to save.
The Pioneers launched 14 shots, five on-goal. Four of Ucar's team-high four shots were on-target.
Ucar's second goal of the season came from 15 yards out with an assist by
Ricardo Ramos. It came immediately after a shot by
James Westfield was blocked.
JBU appeared to tie it with a goal in the second half that came when SAC Defensive Player of the Week Camejo punted into JBU's Ashby Clark and the ball rebounded into the goal. But the ball touched Clark's arm and the goal was disallowed.
The win kept Wayland within a half-game of SAC-leading, 18
th-ranked Southwestern Christian (12-1-1, 4-0-1), which battled USAO to a 0-0 tie Wednesday. The Pioneers are tied for second Mid-America Christian (9-2, 4-1) and Oklahoma City (also 9-2, 4-1, just ahead of USAO (9-3-1, 3-1-1), ranked the equivalent of 33
rd, in the tightly-bunched standings.
Wayland can separate itself from OCU when the Pioneers play there at 7 p.m. Tuesday. WBU then hosts Bacone on Oct. 20 before two big matches to end the regular-season at home against USAO and on the road against Southwestern Christian.
