PLAINVIEW, TX – The Wayland Baptist Women's Soccer team will begin its postseason journey on its home field Tuesday, November 3, as the No. 3-seeded Pioneers welcome No. 6 Nelson University to J.V. Hilliard Field for the opening round of the 2026 Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Women's Soccer Tournament. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Wayland enters the tournament following a strong regular-season campaign, finishing with an overall record of 9-5-2 and a 6-2-1 mark in conference play. The Pioneers secured third place in the SAC standings, earning a top-four seed and the opportunity to host a first-round postseason matchup in front of their home crowd.
The Pioneers closed out the regular season Wednesday with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City. Wayland overcame two separate one-goal deficits, with Erin Carr and Lilly Gansauge each finding the back of the net to help secure the draw.
The result capped off a conference campaign in which Wayland collected six victories and established itself among the top teams in the SAC.
Head Coach Alex Castaneda emphasized the significance of earning a home playoff game and praised his team's determination throughout the regular season.
"Finishing third in the conference and securing a top-four finish means a lot to our program. Earning the opportunity to host a first-round playoff game is something our players have worked extremely hard for, and we're excited to have that opportunity in front of our home crowd," Castaneda said.
Wayland's opening-round opponent, Nelson University, enters the postseason with a 7-9-1 overall record and a 3-5-1 mark in conference play.
The two programs are familiar with one another after meeting earlier this season on September 26 in their SAC opener. In that contest, the Pioneers rallied from behind twice to earn a 3-2 victory over the Lions and open conference play with a win.
Tuesday's matchup will provide Wayland with an opportunity to build on that regular-season victory, although the stakes will be significantly higher with a spot in the conference semifinals on the line.
Castaneda understands the challenges that come with postseason competition and emphasized the importance of preparing for a competitive Nelson squad.
"Now it's time to shift into playoff mode. We'll face a very good Nelson team next week, and we know the postseason brings a different level of intensity. It's win or go home, and every team comes into the playoffs with a fresh start. We need to take everything we've learned throughout this season, prepare the right way, and be ready for a highly competitive game," Castaneda said.
With the regular season behind them, the Pioneers will look to capitalize on their home-field advantage and continue their pursuit of a SAC Tournament championship.
The winner of Tuesday's matchup will advance to the SAC Tournament semifinals on Friday, November 6, where they will face the winner of the No. 2 Science & Arts and No. 7 Southwestern Christian matchup. The conference championship match is scheduled for Monday, November 9.
MATCH INFORMATION
Matchup: No. 3 Wayland Baptist (9-5-2, 6-2-1 SAC) vs. No. 6 Nelson University (7-9-1, 3-5-1 SAC)
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Time: 3:30 p.m. CST
Location: J.V. Hilliard Field – Plainview, Texas
Previous Meeting: Wayland Baptist defeated Nelson, 3-2, on September 26.
What's at Stake: A berth in the SAC Tournament semifinals on November 6.
