WINONA LAKE, Ind. -- Playing in her first collegiate soccer match, freshman striker Sara Frey became her team's overtime hero in the John Brown University women's soccer team's season opener Friday by scoring the game-winning overtime tally, vaulting No. 22 Golden Eagles to a 1-0 win over Taylor (Ind.) in the opening game of the Grace College Classic.
"It is always good to get the first game of the season under your belt," said JBU head coach Kathleen Paulsen. "I thought there were a few great individual performances, but we are looking to put together a better collective performance. This was a great learning game for us as I thought we did some things well, but there were definitely some things we could do to get better.
"We will learn and move forward. Right now, we are looking to tomorrow for another great match up against Grace."
Frey took six of JBU's 13 shots in the match, and put three of them on target. Her game-winner came in the 96th minute off a throw-in, when senior defender Rachel Harris found sophomore midfielder Sara Lachance. Lachance's head flick found a streaking Frey, who made no mistake on her sixth attempt by half-volleying a shot over the outstretched arms of Taylor keeper Kristiana Daniels, and into the back of the net for the game-winner with 4:11 remaining on the overtime clock.
John Brown (1-0) took four more shots than Taylor (1-1) in the opening half. The Golden Eagles fired seven shots and put two on target, while the Trojans were limited to three shots in the first 45 minutes, two of which were saved by junior goalkeeper Kristen Morency.
The Trojans turned the tables on the Golden Eagles in the second period, out-firing John Brown, 12-6, but Morency denied all three shots that came her way.
Daniels (1-1) recorded four saves in the loss, but Morency (1-0) collected six saves to earn the 17th shutout of her career.
JBU returned to the pitch on Saturday to face the host Lancers of Grace (Ind.). Results were not available at presstime.
Sports on 08/31/2014