SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- For the second time in as many years, the Golden Eagle womens soccer team (11-4-3) will make in appearance in the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament title game, this time as a result of senior midfielder Casey OBriens header late in a 1-0 shutout victory over top-seeded and No. 23 Science & Arts (Okla.) this afternoon at Drover Pitch.
John Brown, which suffered a 2-1 loss to the Drovers back on Oct. 7 at Alumni Field, earned the victory when it mattered most and, as a result, will return to the conference championship match on Thursday (Nov. 13).
“Today was quite the battle and it was a great game,†said head coach Kathleen Paulsen, who increased her perfect record in SAC postseason play to 3-0-2. “The game conditions were tough with some serious wind, but I thought our team made the adjustments and did an incredible job of executing the game plan. A lot of credit goes to our back line which shut down a very good offensive team from USAO.
“It was a complete game and every player was so important. They were the epitome of our core values today and I couldnt ask for more. We look forward to the championship on Thursday and will do what we can to prepare for that match up.â€
The semifinal matchup was a tale of two halves because of the gusts of wind that blew through Chickasha. The Drovers (18-2-0) began the match with the win and rode the gusts to an 8-2 shooting advantage in the first half. However, goalkeeper Kristen Morency collected two saves, keeping the high-powered USAO offense off the scoreboard. Entering the match, Science & Arts was ranked third in the nation in total goals (73).
Ironically, it was the Golden Eagles which had the best scoring chance in the first half when freshman midfielder Sara Frey redirected an Alex Fahr cross from the left flank in the 36th minute of play. The shot beat the Drover defense keeper Addie Lee, but bounced off the crossbar and stayed out, preserving the 0-0 scoreline.
Although JBU wasnt able to force Lee into a save in the first half, the visitors would then enjoy the wind at its back for the second half. Just seven minutes into the half, freshman midfielder Lauren Tonkovich forced Lee to come up with her first save of the game. Unfortunately for Lee and the Drovers, the John Brown offensive barrage was only beginning.
The Golden Eagles built up a 7-3 shot advantage through the first 25 minutes of the half and finally broke the goalless deadlock in the 73rd minute when OBrien finished off a beautiful cross from Frey in the box with her head. Sophomore forward Braydi Frederick began the play with a slot-pass through to Frey, who sent the volley from the left flank that found OBrien. The goal was OBriens fourth of the season and second game-winner while Frey picked up her sixth helper of the season, tying her with OBrien for the team lead.
JBU didnt stop pressuring the Drover defense, however, as the visitors tuned up another five shots in the remaining 17 minutes of play, which also featured a second iron-seeking missile from Frey in the 84th minute. USAO managed only three shots after OBriens goal, and the only one on target was from leading scorer Jade Ovendale, which ranks second in the nation in goals (32). Morency was equal to the task, picking up her fifth save of the match, preserving JBUs semifinals victory.
With the shutout, Morency runs her 2014 total to 10 and her career mark to 26. Lee was tabbed with only her second loss of the season, making three saves.
After absorbing an 8-2 shot deficit in the first half, the Golden Eagles responded with a 13-6 shot outburst in the second half, winning the shot battle, 15-14. Frey sent a team-high five shot attempts in the win while OBrien, Tonkovich and senior forward Laura Garcia each attempted two apiece. Ovendale was the source of six shots for the Drovers, nearly half of the teams output, and tallied three shots on goal, all scooped up by Morency in the win.
The Golden Eagles will now wait to learn its opponent in the title match as second-seeded Texas Wesleyan and third-seeded Oklahoma Baptist kick off in Ft. Worth, Texas, at 7 p.m. Regardless of the winner, JBU will travel to the victors location, similar to last season when John Brown knocked off top-seeded Oklahoma City in penalty kicks in Oklahoma City.
