Wayland Baptist's
Iris Nevarez and
Lewis Richmond have been honored by the Sooner Athletic Conference as soccer defensive players of the week.
The honor is the second of the season for Nevarez, who has been recognized after both of Wayland's games this season. Most recently, she was recognized following the Pioneers' shutout of Oklahoma-Panhandle State. The 5-foot-7 senior from Dumas recorded four saves as Wayland blanked the Aggies, 3-0.
Normally a midfielder the past three seasons, it was the 23
rd game appearance at Wayland for Nevarez, but her first career start in goal for the Pioneers. In the season-opener, a 3-2 win over Arizona Christian, Nevarez entered the game at halftime
The Pioneers, 2-0 for the third time ever, next play Oct. 30 at home against Central Christian (4-2). The Pioneers will be looking to move to 3-0 for just the second time in program history. The only other time Wayland was 3-0 was 2013 when Wayland ended with a program-best record 13-6-1.
The women's team's Oct. 23 match at Texas Wesleyan was cancelled due to a team decision by TXWES regarding COVID-19.
Richmond, a 5-foot-7 center-midfielder from Blackburn, England, helped the WBU men to a 1-0 victory over OPSU with a tremendous defensive effort. Richmond and the rest of the Pioneers limited the Aggies to four shots, none of which were on-goal.
"Lewis played in our defensive midfielder position and worked tirelessly in screening our backline and stopping counterattacks toward our goal," coach
Robert Ssejjemba said of Richmond, a first-year transfer from Western Texas College.
It was the second shutout of the young season for WBU (3-1), which next plays at Texas Wesleyan (1-2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.
Â
