PLAINVIEW, Texas -- Senior Sara Lachance scored a pair of goals and sophomore Aspen Robinson added a goal and an assist to lead the No. 19 John Brown University women's soccer team to a 5-0 win over Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Saturday afternoon at J.V. Hilliard Field.
John Brown (13-1-1, 7-0-0 SAC) remained perfect in its conference slate, and move within two points of its third-ever Sooner Athletic regular season title. With a 3-0 win over Oklahoma City tonight, Texas Wesleyan (9-4-1, 6-0-1) is just two points shy of the Golden Eagles, setting up a showdown between the teams on Thursday (Oct. 27) at Alumni Field.
Lachance netted her first game-winner of the year when she shouldered in junior Sara Frey's corner kick in the ninth minute and posted the visitors' third goal of the match in the 57th minute, this time locating a perfect header to the near post off Robinson's corner kick.
"I was proud of the team today," said head coach Kathleen Paulsen. "Many players had to fill a lot of roles and positions they don't usually play in. They adapted well and came out with energy. It was a fun, collective win."
After out-shooting the Pioneers (4-8-2, 3-4-0) 7-4 in the first half, John Brown dominated the second half, out-shooting the hosts 8-0 en route to a 15-4 margin, allowing just one shot on goal. Senior Kristen Morency picked up her ninth shutout of the season, which leads all Sooner Athletic keepers.
Robinson scored an absolute gem in the 43rd minute, when she launched a left-footed rocket from 22 yards out, beating WBU keeper Bailey Stengler top shelf. Freshman Allie McCracken earned her first assist of the afternoon by heading forward a pass to sophomore Melody Hagen, who dished off a pass to Robinson for her 14th of the season.
Sophomore Jastin Redman collected her 11th of the season when she split a pair of Pioneer defenders in the 72nd minute and drilled a 15-yard bomb to the far side of the goal. McCracken's perfectly-played through ball to Redman built a solid 4-0 lead for JBU.
In the 90th minute, junior Sam Weber finished off a most odd personal match. Weber stepped up and slotted a perfect penalty kick attempt for her third of the year, but became the only player in program history to have played time in goal and scored a penalty kick in the same match.
After a collision early in the match, Morency had to be temporarily relieved by Weber to be checked out by team trainers. After 10 seconds of game time ticked away, Morency resumed her place in goal.
Redman led all players with six shot attempts while Lachance attempted three, all on goal, in her second multi-goal effort of the season.
JBU returns to action at 4 p.m. Thursday against Texas Wesleyan.
Sports on 10/26/2016