With a week's rest in the rear-view mirror and a full lineup back intact, the John Brown University men's soccer team scored three goals in the first half to take a 4-1 win over Bacone (Okla.) on Saturday evening at Alumni Field.
Freshman Elias McCloud's first collegiate goal in the ninth minute proved to stand as the game winner, while sophomore Amilcar Gonzalez netted his first of the season in the 34th minute to provide insurance as the Golden Eagles (7-4-1, 3-1-1 Sooner Athletic) have started a new winning streak after taking their loss last week to Wayland Baptist (Texas).
Junior Kelvin Omondi scored his 12th of the season just 3 minutes, 21 seconds into the contest off a feed from the other side of half from junior Conner Haney, which bounced through the back line, allowing Omondi to run onto it. With a defender at his back, Omondi shielded the ball while tearing up the right side just long enough before chipping a shot past Bacone keeper Dev Bhamra's right.
The game-winner came just under five minutes later in the form of McCloud's first tally at the college level. Omondi ripped a shot from in close and, after Bhamra stopped it, the rebound caromed off a Warrior defender back towards the goal line that McCloud tipped in to double JBU's lead.
Sporting a 9-6 shooting advantage in the first half, the Golden Eagles tripled its lead before the break when Gonzalez capped off a beautiful passing play that started with hard work near the goal line by junior Ashby Clark. Clark worked out of a tough position to feed junior Ryan Williams in front of the goal who one-touched a pass to a wide-open Gonzalez on the right side. Gonzalez launched the attempt, which bests Bhamra before he could get back into position.
The Warriors (7-5-1, 2-3-1) found the scoreboard in the 72nd minute, breaking senior Adam Holt's clean sheet bid, when Samuel Chillman scored his sixth of the year when he broke through the back line off a pass from Ramon Lopez Cano and ripped a shot from the right side past Holt.
With the match winding to a close, John Brown posted one final tally, a rocket from senior Marco Cardona. His second of the season came off fine work from Williams close to the goal line, who finally evaded a defender before putting a pass on a platter for Cardona, who was calling for the ball 10 yards away. Cardona made the shot count, ripping a rocket off the crossbar and down to cement the victory.
Holt made a save in each half to improve to 7-4-1, while Bhamra took the loss despite making four saves. JBU out-shot the visitors 16-9 overall and enjoyed an 8-3 advantage in shots on target.
The Golden Eagles were scheduled to return to action Tuesday at St. Gregory's (Okla.). Results were not available at presstime. JBU will return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. at home against Central Christian (Kan.).
Sports on 10/18/2017