OLATHE, Kan. -- Junior Ryan Williams converted a penalty kick in the 87th minute and the John Brown University men's soccer team not only grabbed its first win of the 2017 season, but made history at the same time, knocking off previously undefeated and third-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) by a 2-1 final on Saturday at Pioneer Field.
Junior Kelvin Omondi, who also scored in the contest, chased down a ball in the Pioneer (4-1-0) box, forcing MNU keeper Juan Pablo Riesco to challenge. In the process of challenging Omondi, Riesco took out his own defender, who fell on the ball, awarding the Golden Eagles (1-3-0) a penalty opportunity with just more than three minutes left in the match.
Williams made no mistake, besting Riesco, who predicted the attempt incorrectly, handing head coach Brenton Benware his first-career victory at the helm of the JBU program.
"This was a fun way to get my first win at JBU," Benware said. "I believe we proved to ourselves what we're capable of accomplishing this season. Ultimately, this is about the young men I'm able to do life with each day. I'm so happy they were able to pull out a positive result."
The win broke John Brown's three-match winless streak to open the 2017 season, also tying a program record in the process. MidAmerica Nazarene's ranking was a tie for the highest ranked opponent that the Golden Eagles have upset on the road in program history, tying the mark set in 2015 when JBU upset then-No. 3 Oklahoma Wesleyan, 1-0, in Bartlesville.
Nazarene opened the scoring early in the eighth minute by converting a penalty of its own. Tanner Hunjak potted his third of the season past senior Adam Holt to give MNU a quick 1-0 lead.
Omondi knotted the score at one apiece just before halftime when he buried his second of the season from 16 yards out to the bottom right corner, off a slick pass through the MNU back line from junior Conner Haney in the 41st minute.
While Nazarene out-shot the Golden Eagles 14-11 on the match, each team attempted six on goal.
Holt (1-3) picked up the victory, making five saves on six Pioneer shots. Riesco was dinged with the loss after rejecting four of JBU's six attempts on target.
"We've been waiting these first few weeks of the season to get healthy," added Benware. "While we're still not completely there, today was the closest we've been. That made a big difference for us today."
Omondi paced the JBU offense with three shots while Hunjak attempted four in Holt's direction.
The hosts nearly took a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute, but Jallan Flores' shot rung the post, keeping the match tied at one.
After spending 18 days on the road, the Golden Eagles returned to action on Tuesday at Alumni Field against Central Baptist. Results were not available at presstime. John Brown will then turn around after a week break on Sept. 19 to travel to current No. 1 Oklahoma Wesleyan, where JBU has won consecutive matches.
Sports on 09/13/2017