KISSIMMEE, FL. --- 7-seed Wayland Baptist opened NCCAA Division 1 Women's Soccer National Championship play with grit, composure, and plenty of defensive toughness, earning a 1–1 draw against 2-seed Southwestern Christian on Monday afternoon at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex.
The Pioneers set the tone early, weathering SCU's initial pressure before striking first. In the 24th minute, junior forward
Camila Zavala delivered exactly what Wayland needed—turning a well-placed ball into the match's opening goal. Zavala's finish, her team-leading strike of the postseason, gave WBU a 1–0 advantage and energized the Pioneer sideline.
From there, it became a showcase of resilience, anchored by goalkeeper
Ashley Lopez, who produced a standout performance. Lopez registered eight saves, including several difficult stops on shots to the corners, keeping the Eagles frustrated throughout the first half and much of the second.
Wayland continued creating chances of its own, with
Ashley Perez,
Tannia Diaz, and
Celeste Landin all pushing forward and forcing SCU keeper Lorelai Puglisi into action. WBU tallied 11 shots overall, five of them on frame, and earned five corner kicks.
Despite Wayland's strong defensive organization, Southwestern Christian finally broke through in the 71st minute. A quick combination led to an equalizer from SCU's Soshona Graham, assisted by Sofia Jimenez. The goal knotted the match at 1–1, setting up a tense final 20 minutes.
The Pioneers remained composed under pressure. Lopez continued her command of the back line, defenders
Gabriella Chapa,
Talia Gisonni, and the Pioneer midfield unit absorbing waves of SCU attacks while still pushing forward for a potential winner. Late opportunities from Zavala and Diaz kept WBU in the hunt, but neither side managed to find a decisive goal.
Physicality also played a role, with WBU whistled for 13 fouls and freshman midfielder
Aniyah Perez receiving a yellow card in the 67th minute. Still, the Pioneers stayed locked in, finishing the match with discipline and determination.
With the draw, Wayland Baptist moves to 7-10-2 on the season and remains firmly in contention as tournament play continues. While the result wasn't the full three points the Pioneers hoped for, the effort showed a team that's more than capable of competing for an NCCAA National Championship.
WBU will now regroup, recover, and prepare for its next challenge—another pool play match against 3-seed Houghton University. The match will take place on Tuesday, December 2
nd at 1:30 PM CT.
To see the updated standings and scores from the 2025 NCCAA Division 1 Women's Soccer National Championships, please visit
here.
