FORT WORTH, Texas -- After 110 minutes of physical play, the John Brown University men's soccer team had to settle for a 2-2 double-overtime draw with Texas Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at Martin Field.
The Golden Eagles (5-3-1, 1-0-1 Sooner Athletic) had their five-match winning streak transitioned into a six-match unbeaten run. Wesleyan (2-5-1, 0-1-1) rode keeper Bastian Blumenberg (2-5-1) to 11 saves on 13 chanches. Senior Adam Holt made five second-half and overtime saves to preserve the draw.
The Rams surprisingly took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when George Battersby played a ball up to Anthony Atilola, who outran Holt to score his fourth of the season.
Just 31 seconds later, senior Marco Cardona secured his first of the season when he skillfully redirected a Santiago Vanegas cross from the left wing past Blumenberg to tie the match at one apiece.
JBU seemed to have the match in hand just seven minutes later when junior Ryan Williams' service from the left side to the back post found junior Conner Haney. Haney's attempt was stopped, but junior Kelvin Omondi tapped in the rebound to give the Golden Eagles its first lead of the contest.
Out-shooting the hosts 9-4 through 45 minutes, John Brown uncharacteristically gave up a second-half goal when Yohan Shirazi's first of the season tied the score at two. The goal came off an Atilola free kick.
In the first overtime, Wesleyan's Tyler Brooks nearly ended things abruptly when he ripped a shot from 30 yards out that hit the upper right corner of the frame. With 1:10 to play in the final overtime period, Holt made a terrific diving save on a shot from Dominik Huebl to preserve the tie.
After being outshot 9-4 in the first half, the Rams outshot the Golden Eagles 19-17 for the remainder of the contest.
JBU returns to action on Thursday when it welcomes conference-leading Wayland Baptist (Texas) to Alumni Field for a 7 p.m. showdown. The Pioneers are coming off a surprising 2-1 win over Central Christian (Kan.), a match that saw the Tigers own a 1-0 lead.
Sports on 10/04/2017