FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University women's soccer team (11-5-1) suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Oklahoma Baptist University (14-5-1) in semifinal action of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament at Martin Field on Monday.
The Rams controlled the ball well throughout the game, but OBU created a number of dangerous opportunities. The aggressive Bison were called offside eight times, but, in the 15th minute, the Linesman's flag stayed down and Mikayla Lowery finished the first goal of the game. Just over a minute later
Brianna Wilson found
Kaitlin Bush for a header, but OBU's Emma Beck was able to make the save.
The Rams had five corner kicks in the first half, but Beck came up with five saves to keep the score at 1-0 through 45 minutes.
In the 61st minute, the Rams were a breath away from tying the game. A corner kick from
Sandy Villarreal produced three shots. One was blocked by the OBU defense and two were saved by Beck, the second of which sent a blast from
Shrareh Asadi glancing off the crossbar.
Two minutes later OBU's Ailee Thompson gathered the ball just across midfield and found herself one-on-one with TWU goalkeeper
Nikki Lockwood. Thompson found the net to push the score to 2-0.
The Rams finally got on the board in the 66th minute when Asadi hit
Alexis Michaelkovich for her eighth goal of the season. Three minute later OBU's Rafaela Baroni thumped the ball over the Texas Wesleyan defense and Lowery scored her second goal of the game.
The Lady Rams showed great heart for the remainder of the contest. In the 88th minute Michaelkovich drew a foul in the box and
Paige Wheaton converted the penalty kick to draw within a goal. With 1:02 to play an OBU handball gave the Rams a free kick from 25 yards out, but Beck came up with her eighth save of the game to preserve a 3-2 win for the Bison.
Head coach
Josh Gibbs commented on the tough loss. "I thought we were the better team and had the better run of play throughout, but they popped balls over the top all night that gave us trouble. Credit to them. They found a way."
For the game, Texas Wesleyan outshot Oklahoma Baptist 24-17 including a 10-7 count in shots on goal. Texas Wesleyan also led 9-3 in corner kicks. Lockwood (11-5-1) made four saves.
"I'm very proud of our players," Gibbs continued. "They fought to the bitter end. They gave everything they had, and I couldn't be more proud. It is really tough to see the seniors go. Such an important and impactful class. The last four years with them has been a great honor. They made me a better coach and a better person. I have been really lucky to be surrounded by those incredible student-athletes and people for four years."
The Lady Rams produced the program's seventh consecutive season with at least 10 wins. At 6-2-1 in conference play, they were the second seed in the SAC Tournament. The third seeded Bison will host fourth seeded John Brown University in the SAC Championship game on Thursday.
Ramblings
- The Lady Rams entered Monday's game having recorded seven shutouts and holding a goals against average of 0.91. Three goals were the most allowed by the Rams since October 16 of last year and raised the season GAA to 1.03.
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Kaitlin Bush led the Lady Rams with 22 points and nine goals.
Sandy Villarreal led the team with five assists.
- This was Texas Welseyan's second appearance in the SAC Semifinals in two years of SAC membership.
