BETHANY, Okla. – Four days after arguably the biggest win in program history, the Wayland Baptist women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to Southwestern Christian in its Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season finale here Saturday.
Wayland was hoping to tack another win onto its rousing 1-0 victory over No. 16 University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Senior Day Tuesday. Instead, the Pioneers will have to regroup before the start of the SAC Tournament late next week.
Against Southwestern Christian (8-7-1, 2-5 SAC), which had lost five straight prior to Saturday, Wayland jumped out to a 1-0 lead when
Madison McComasky scored just four minutes, three seconds into the match. A freshman defender, McComasky tallied her first career goal following a corner kick to the middle and an assist by Estephany Gonzalez.
As quickly as Wayland scored in the first half, the Eagles did so in the second. Also after a corner, Emily Anderson's header on the back post tied it only 2:52 after intermission.
When neither team scored the final 42 minutes of regulation, Wayland went into its second overtime of the season, having won its first 2-1 on the road over Mid-America Christian.
Wayland fired first in extra time when
Taylor Moore, who scored the lone goal in Tuesday's emotional victory, got a shot on-goal. The Eagles got off a shot then a minute later the second of back-to-back shots found its mark. WBU keeper
Kaitlyn Brantzeg was able to fend off the first, but Anderson again scored 4:17 in to win it for the home team.
The Pioneers outshot the Eagles, 15-13, including 6-5 on-target goals. Moore fire five shots, including three on-goal. Nine other Pioneers shot.
WBU ends the regular-season tied for fifth place with Central Christian (11-7, 4-4), but because the Pioneers lost to the Tigers in McPherson, Kan., 3-2, WBU is the lower sixth seed.
As such, Wayland is poised for a quick rematch with No. 3 seed USAO in the first round of the SAC Tournament. Now No. 19, USAO (13-4-1, 5-2-1) tied with No. 7 John Brown (13-3-1, 5-2-1) for third place behind Texas Wesleyan (12-3-1, 6-1-1) and Oklahoma City (9-2-2, 5-1-1), which could finish as co-champs if OCU defeats Southwestern Christian on Tuesday. Because USAO defeated JBU, 2-1, the Drovers are the higher seed.
Wayland avoided what would have been its fifth trip in the last six years to Siloam Springs, Ark., to face John Brown in the SAC Tournament. Instead, the Pioneers most likely head to Chickasha, Okla., for a match against USAO on Friday at a time to be determined.
