CHICKASHA, Okla. – The Science & Arts of Oklahoma Drovers on Saturday showed Wayland Baptist why they're ranked No. 9 in the NAIA and sit atop the Sooner Athletic Conference standings.
The Drovers scored early and often as they defeated the Pioneers, 7-0, preventing Wayland from repeating last season's 1-0 upset of then No. 16-ranked USAO.
The Drovers scored their first goal 7½ minutes into the match, then took a 2-0 lead about two minutes after that.
USAO's fifth first-half goal came just five seconds before intermission.
The Drovers took 34 shots, including 21 on-goal as WBU keeper
Maci Merket logged 14 saves. Six different players scored for the home team.
Wayland ended with six shots on-goal out of its 11 total shots.
Taylor Moore accounted for seven shots, four of which were on-target.
After enjoying the best start to a season in school history, it was the fourth straight setback for Wayland (6-5-2, 3-4-1 SAC), while USAO (17-1, 8-1) logged its seventh straight win.
The Pioneers end the regular-season Tuesday in Fort Worth with a 5 p.m. match against Texas Wesleyan (11-5, 6-2), which on Saturday lost 1-0 in double-overtime to Mid-America Christian.
Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday's match, which was postponed a week due to inclement weather, Wayland appears destined to be the No. 7 seed in the SAC Tournament.
