PLAINVIEW, Texas – The Wayland Baptist women's soccer team celebrated Senior Day in winning fashion Saturday afternoon, defeating Texas Wesleyan University 1-0 at J.V. Hilliard Field. A second-half goal from Ashley Perez and a strong defensive performance helped the Pioneers secure their fifth Sooner Athletic Conference victory of the season.
With the win, Wayland improved to 8-4-1 overall and 5-1 in SAC play, continuing its push toward the top of the conference standings.
Before the match, Wayland honored nine graduating seniors for their dedication and contributions to the women's soccer program. Ashley Lopez, Gabriella Chapa, Tannia Diaz, Camila Zavala, Lilly Gansauge, Narriah Gomez, Cecilia Lopez, Liliana Hernandez, and Talia Gisonni were each recognized as part of the Senior Day celebration.
The Pioneers came out aggressively in the opening half, controlling possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Wayland outshot Texas Wesleyan 17-2 through the first 45 minutes, placing eight shots on goal. Despite the offensive pressure, the Rams' defense held firm, keeping the match scoreless heading into halftime.
Wayland wasted little time breaking through after the break. Just over three minutes into the second half, Ashley Perez found the back of the net in the 49th minute, scoring at the 48:17 mark to give the Pioneers a 1-0 advantage. The goal proved to be the game-winner as Wayland maintained control throughout the remainder of the contest.
The Pioneers continued applying offensive pressure, finishing with an impressive 31-3 advantage in total shots, including 15 shots on goal compared to just two for Texas Wesleyan. Wayland also held a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Senior Camila Zavala led the offensive attack with six shots, including four on goal. Fellow senior Tannia Diaz contributed four shots, placing three on target, while Talia Gisonni added four attempts. Erin Carr also recorded four shots, including two on goal, helping sustain Wayland's offensive momentum.
Defensively, Wayland limited Texas Wesleyan to just one shot in the second half. Senior goalkeeper Ashley Lopez played all 90 minutes, recording two saves to preserve the shutout and help the Pioneers secure a memorable victory on Senior Day.
Head Coach Alex Castaneda praised his team's performance and emphasized the significance of earning a victory while celebrating the program's graduating seniors.
"I thought it was a great team performance today. We showed good energy, competed for each other, and did a good job executing our game plan. I'm proud of the effort and commitment from the group, especially on Senior Day. It's a special day for our seniors, and it was important for us to put in a performance that reflected what they mean to this program," Castaneda said.
Saturday's victory marked another important step for the Pioneers as they continue their pursuit of a Sooner Athletic Conference championship. With conference play entering its final stretch, Wayland has positioned itself for a significant matchup with one of the league's top teams.
Up Next
Wayland Baptist will host John Brown University on Wednesday, October 21, at 5:30 p.m. at J.V. Hilliard Field in Plainview. The highly anticipated conference matchup will give the Pioneers an opportunity to compete for first place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings.
