Women’s and Men’s Soccer
Drovers Roll Past WBU

CHICKASHA – Drover fans started to squirm in their seats when Wayland Baptist’s Najuka Anderson scored the Pioneer’s second goal in three minutes cutting what was a three-goal lead to 3-2. But the University of Science and Arts answered with two Amanda Caldeira goals in four minutes as USAO pulled away for a 5-2 win Friday afternoon at Drover Field. 

USAO improved to 5-4-1 overall and 2-2-0 in the Sooner Athletic Conference after the best offensive day since the Drovers 8-1 win over Tabor College back in August. Alex Cernigliaro started things off with two, first-half goals, and Brittany Jay scored in the 54th minute to give USAO what seemed to be a comfortable 3-0 lead. Cernigliaro’s first goal was unassisted while Connie Perez served up a perfect ball from 50 yards out for Cernigliaro’s second goal, and Taylor Smithwick found Jay for USAO’s third score. 

With a south wind helping, WBU’s Danielle Purcell gave the visitors life with an unassisted goal off a rebound in the 59th minute. In the 62nd minute, Anderson netted the team’s second goal of the half to cut the lead to 3-2. 

USAO began to play with the intensity they did in the first half and started to dominate the action. Talita Guindani and Cernigliaro collected assists off Caldeira’s late-game scores as Caldeira bounced back from a head injury in Tuesday’s game to post her third and fourth goals of the season. 

The Drovers moved into fifth place in the conference with road games coming up against Oklahoma Christian at 5 p.m. Tuesday and Northwestern Oklahoma at 3 p.m. Friday. The team returns home for the regular season finale Oct. 16 against John Brown. 

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