CHICKASHA, Okla. – Wayland Baptist fell victim to tremendous defense by Science & Arts of Oklahoma here Saturday.
The Pioneers managed to take just five shots in the Sooner Athletic Conference match as Wayland fell to the Drovers, 2-0.
USAO (11-5-1, 6-3 SAC), which scored goals in the 37
th and 74
th minutes, outshot Wayland, 16-5. Only one Pioneer shot was on-goal, by
Erik Luzanilla. The Drovers managed seven on-target shots as WBU keeper
Gonzalo Santa recorded five saves.
It was only Wayland's second shutout loss all season.
"I thought we started the game well but we were not consistent in our intensity in moving the ball and getting it back after we lost it," WBU coach
Robert Ssejjemba said. "USAO scored in the right moments in each half and I felt they managed the game well.
"Despite the loss, we had some good individual performances.
Stefano Pesce had a good game for us. He read the game very well, often pushing up to help our midfield.
Jose Hincapie created problems for USAO's backline whenever he got on the ball in the final third."
The loss means Wayland (8-3-3, 4-3-1 SAC) must win its final regular-season match – at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Fort Worth against Texas Wesleyan – in order to secure a No. 4 seed in the SAC Tournament, which would allow the Pioneers to host a first-round game Nov. 8.
Texas Wesleyan (4-13, 3-5 SAC) has dropped its last two games to SAC front-runners John Brown (4-1) and Mid-America Christian (3-0).
Wayland's game against Texas Wesleyan was originally scheduled to be play last Tuesday, but it was postponed a week due to inclement weather.
