Women's soccer 'rewarded for consistent effort' with 3-0 shutout win over SAGU

LUBBOCK – It had been almost a month since the Wayland Baptist women's soccer team experienced the thrill of victory. On Saturday afternoon at Berl Huffman Soccer Complex, the Pioneers but forth a thrilling 3-0 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Southwestern Assemblies of God University.
 
"This was a much-needed reward for the consistent effort that the ladies have been putting in," Wayland coach Shiloh Posey said.
 
The Pioneers (4-5, 2-5 SAC) snapped a five-match skid, experiencing their first victory since Feb. 23. They did it by dominating possession, outshooting the Lady Lions (5-6, 2-4), 32-5. Wayland had 20 shots on-goal compared to just one for SAGU.
 
Bianca Roman was responsible for 16 of those shots, half of which were on-goal. The 16 shots shattered the program record of 12 held since 2013 by Emarie Holland, the program's all-time leading goals scorer. Roman's eight on-target shots were one off the program record.
 
Roman managed one goal, but first got on the scoring sheet with an assist when her free kick resulted in the first goal of the game and second of the season by Mayra Sosa in the 31^st minute. Sosa wound up taking five shots, all on-goal.
 
Roman's goal, assisted by Natalie Terry, made it 2-0 in the 42^nd minute and boosted her team-leading total to seven on the season. Freshman Audilia Vargas ended the scoring with her first career goal just over three minutes from the final buzzer.
 
Iris Nevarez notched the win in goal for WBU.
 
"It was an all-around great effort by the entire team today," Posey said. "We've played good soccer through the season, but haven't been seeing the results that our effort should have produced. I'm really pleased for the girls to get the result today."
Posey praised his team for not giving up during their month-long dry spell, which featured four shutout defeats.
 
"The year has been one of ups and downs, and we could have chosen to stop competing. But the ladies have continued to work hard and maintain a positive attitude through every circumstance," Posey said.
 
Wayland and SAGU both find themselves in a group of four teams within a half-game of each other for sixth place in the SAC standings. The Pioneers can pick up ground by knocking off the fifth-place team, Science & Arts of Oklahoma (9-4, 4-3), when they host the Drovers at 2 p.m. Tuesday back at Berl Huffman.
 
"We have another game on Tuesday, and will give our best effort," Posey said. "We'll have to wait and see what the results say."
 
USAO has won its two outings, 1-0 over Southwestern Christian and 3-2 over Central Christian.