JBU knocks off No. 1 Oklahoma Wesleyan

Photo courtesy of JBU Sports Information John Brown junior Giovani Bejarano, left, keeps the ball away from Oklahoma Wesleyan’s Daniel Cordeiro during Tuesday’s match in Bartlesville, Okla. The Golden Eagles scored two late goals to upset No. 1-ranked OKWU 2-1.
Photo courtesy of JBU Sports Information John Brown junior Giovani Bejarano, left, keeps the ball away from Oklahoma Wesleyan’s Daniel Cordeiro during Tuesday’s match in Bartlesville, Okla. The Golden Eagles scored two late goals to upset No. 1-ranked OKWU 2-1.

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- Junior Kelvin Omondi unleashed a shot inside the box with under four minutes to go to score the game-winner and the John Brown University men's soccer team solidified its second upset win in three matches with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over No. 1 Oklahoma Wesleyan on Tuesday evening at the OKWU Soccer Pitch.

With Omondi's fifth goal of the season, the Golden Eagles (3-3-0) won their third straight and set a new program record by knocking off the nation's top-ranked opponent, a feat never before accomplished in the program's 37-year history.

JBU is now 3-0-1 in its last four outings with the Eagles (5-1-1) with John Brown winning in its last two trips to Bartlesville, despite the hosts owning a 22-13 shooting advantage.

"I love this game and I love this team and I want to battle with this team," said head coach Brenton Benware after the emotional victory over his alma mater. "We're really proud having just beat the number one team in the country. We started the game a little shaky, but Adam [Holt] made some big saves for us tonight and kept us in the game.

"Ryan had a great finish for us and Kelvin, my goodness, what an incredible finish. Part of our goal for the match was getting him in behind the back line -- he is very tough to defend if we can accomplish that."

The goals came late in the contest as OKWU broke the scoreless tie in the 72nd minute when Aleksandar Simovic scampered across the 18 yard box and let go a shot to the far left post as he drifted to the right, netting his third goal of the season.

Despite the John Brown early-season scoring woes, the Golden Eagles took advantage of Wesleyan's press after taking the lead. With more space in the midfield and attacking areas, junior Conner Haney drew a foul just outside the box in the middle 11 minutes later of back-and-forth action, prompting JBU's specialist to take the free kick.

Williams let go a shot that maneuvered around the wall to the left side pocket past OKWU keeper Dusan Djordjev to create the match's second tie. It was Williams' third tally of the season.

Just four minutes later in the 87th minute, Williams played a ball from the back midfield all the way up the left wing to Omondi. After taking the ball deep into the attacking area, Omondi beat his defender one-on-one and cut into the box, unleashing an eight-yard rip, stunning the home crowd and sending the Golden Eagle bench into a frenzy.

A late push by Wesleyan was to no avail as senior Adam Holt capped off the match with nine saves on 10 chances, marking his collegiate career with an undefeated record over OKWU, and in each four times, the Eagles were ranked in the top 10 of the NAIA National Coaches' Poll.

Holt made the saves he needed to, but also pulled out a pair of saves that kept the match scoreless twice. In the ninth minute, Simovic had a chance to put Wesleyan on the board first, but his shot, which initially sailed over Holt who came out to challenge, dropped and headed towards the open goal. Senior Steve Teshima momentarily cleared the ball off the goal line, but it was Holt who completed a near bicycle kick to stop the ball's momentum, clearing the ball away from the goalmouth and preserving the scoreless tie.

In the 84th minute, Holt preserved a 1-1 score with a diving save to his right, again denying Simovic his second of the match, without allowing a rebound opportunity.

Holt's nine saves sets a new season high, as his record improved to 3-3-0 on the season. Djordjev made five saves and fell to 5-1-1.

JBU 4, Texas A&M-Texarkana 1

Junior Kelvin Omondi netted a pair of goals and the John Brown University men's soccer team racked up a quartet of tallies within the first 30 minutes of match to run past Texas A&M--Texarkana 4-1 on Thursday night at Alumni Field.

The win is JBU's fourth straight, and for the first time in 2017, the Golden Eagles (4-3-0) are over the .500 mark, just before heading into Sooner Athletic play next week.

"We started with great tempo tonight, and we needed to solidify our two big wins, and I think we did that," head coach Brenton Benware said. "Thankfully we now have a week off and I feel confident with the fitness of the squad moving into the conference season."

Junior Ashby Clark broke the scoreless tie just 10 minutes in when he finished off a perfect display of passing with a redirection shot to the left post and in from inside the box. Junior Ryan Williams started the play with a through ball up the right wing to junior Conner Haney. Haney eluded his defender and sent the pass into the box with enough steam that Clark simply redirected it for a 1-0 John Brown lead.

Things unraveled quickly for Texarkana (2-5-0) less than a minute later when Omondi scored his first of two unassisted goals on the night by cutting through the box to the left and letting go a shot to the far right post past TAMUT keeper Zak McCarthy to double the hosts' lead.

In arguably one of the most singular efforts of the season, Omondi stole the ball at midfield and went in alone against the Texarkana back line, shrugging off one defender and ripping a shot to the right side of the goal in the 27th minute to continue the Golden Eagle run to 3-0.

Williams continued his three-point effort on the match with a beautiful one-touch strike from the top of the box off a well-paced pass from senior Marco Cardona on the right flank in the 31st minute.

While TAMUT spoiled senior Adam Holt's (4-3-0) shutout bid less than a minute later, the Golden Eagles out-shot the visitors 21-5 on the match as senior Connor Georgopulos relieved Holt in goal between halves.

Cardona and Omondi led all players with five shots apiece. Cesar Olmos netted Texarkana's lone goal, his first of the season. McCarthy finished the match with eight saves on 12 attempts.

JBU will now rest for the week and return to action in Waxahachie, Texas, next Thursday when it opens Sooner Athletic play with a tilt at Southwestern Assemblies of God. The match is slated to begin at 5 p.m.

Sports on 09/24/2017