JBU women advance in SAC Tournament

n The Golden Eagles won their second straight regular season conference title Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of JBU Sports Information John Brown University's women's soccer team huddled for a group photo Tuesday after defeating Science and Arts (Okla.) 1-0 in Chickasha, Okla., to capture their second straight Sooner Athletic Conference regular season championship.
Photo courtesy of JBU Sports Information John Brown University's women's soccer team huddled for a group photo Tuesday after defeating Science and Arts (Okla.) 1-0 in Chickasha, Okla., to capture their second straight Sooner Athletic Conference regular season championship.

The top-seeded and No. 19 John Brown University women's soccer team used a 29-0 shooting advantage a pair of second-half goals from senior Hannah Poor to dispatch eighth-seeded Wayland Baptist (Texas) 4-0 on Friday night at Alumni Field in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

For the sixth-straight season, the Golden Eagles (17-2-0) will make an appearance in the tournament semifinals, and will host fifth-seeded Oklahoma City on Tuesday at 2 p.m. City upset fourth-seeded Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) by a 3-1 final on Thursday night.

The visiting Pioneers (4-13-0) played a valiant contest, despite having only 10 healthy players to dress for the contest. WBU keeper Erin Moon kept John Brown to just one goal in the first half, and finished with three saves on seven JBU shots on target.

Junior Anne Metz potted her second of the season in the sixth minute to record her first game-winner of the season. Metz ripped a rebound off a Sara Frey blocked shot from seven yards to hand John Brown a 1-0 advantage.

Despite out-shooting the visitors 13-0 through 45 minutes of play, JBU couldn't again find the scoreboard in the first half.

In the 60th minute, Frey completed her brace with her seventh goal of the season when she unloaded a 35-yard blast that floated under the crossbar past Moon and in, doubling up the hosts' lead.

Finally, Poor notched goals seven and eight on the year in the final 14 minutes of play off corner kicks, which JBU held an 18-0 advantage through the entire match.

Poor's first tally was a perfect header at the back post off the service from freshman Paige Kula, who registered her 10th helper of the year.

The second of the night from Poor came in a scramble in the box off a corner kick, which sophomore Hannah Sweaney was able to slot before Poor flicked it over Moon and another defender, ending the Golden Eagle scoring on the night.

Freshmen Maggie Allen (11-0-0) and Caitlyn Logan shared the shutout in goal.

John Brown 1, Science and Arts 0

CHICKASHA, Okla. -- For the second time in as many seasons, the No. 19 John Brown University women's soccer team captured the Sooner Athletic Conference regular season title with a perfect conference record, this time using a goal from sophomore Kristen Howell in the second half to steal a 1-0 win over No. 21 Science & Arts (Okla.) on Tuesday afternoon at Drover Pitch.

In last season's 2-0 clinching win over Texas Wesleyan, Howell netted the insurance tally, and this season's strike was even more dramatic.

In the 61st minute after a first half that JBU controlled the majority possession of, junior Jastin Redman received a ball from the middle from senior Sara Frey up the right flank. After a few touches, Redman blasted a shot that snuck through USAO keeper Morgan Wilson's hands and off the crossbar.

Howell was there, however, to bump in her third of the season at the back post, providing a lead the Golden Eagles wouldn't relinquish, despite a close call.

With an 11-match winning streak on the line, freshman keeper Maggie Allen kept JBU in the contest with season-best six saves and a little bit of help.

With a 1-0 lead and the match winding down to a close, USAO's Lindsay Daugherty's free kick hit the crossbar while Jordan Cleveland's follow-up attempt went wide. Both teams finished the match with 11 shot attempts.

"I was proud of the girls tonight and winning another regular season championship," head coach Kathleen Paulsen said after capturing her second title as coach. "It definitely wasn't the prettiest performance, but we got it done, with a lot on the line as well. Whenever you can get a win on the road, against a quality opponent, that's an accomplishment."

John Brown now owns four SAC women's soccer regular season crowns. Besides last year's title, JBU also won the league in 2007 and 2009.

Sports on 11/05/2017