SHAWNEE, Okla. -- Despite out-shooting Oklahoma Baptist 8-2 in the second half, the Golden Eagles (11-4-3) couldnt figure out OBU keeper Emma Beck for the second time this season and the Bison used a late free kick tally to capture the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament championship, 1-0, over John Brown this afternoon at the OBU Soccer Complex.
Making its second-consecutive appearance in the tournament title game, JBU wasnt able to secure an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships as Baptists Rafaela Baronis free kick in the 63rd minute was the only difference, sending the Bison to its first tournament championship and a berth into the national tournament field for the first time in program history.
“I told my girls before the game that I could care less about a win or a loss,†said head coach Kathleen Paulsen. “They are not the things we live for or we hope in. We hope in something so much greater that could never be defined by a win or a loss. I told them that if we did our very best and we sought to honor God in it, that is enough and that is the true victory. I think we achieved that today.
“I also want to say thank you to our senior class. I have watched them grow and change into beautiful women with bright futures. The result of that change was watching our program change and grow. So thank you for your investment into JBU and this program. I could not be more proud.â€
John Browns five losses on the season proved to be tied for the second-lowest defeats since 2009.
Both teams failed to score in the first half, but Baptist (15-5-1) held a 10-2 shot advantage. Junior keeper Kristen Morency came up with four-first have saves while Beck posted two for the hosts.
Following a JBU foul just outside the box in the 63rd minute, Baroni scored on a free kick to give the Bison a 1-0 advantage with 27 minutes remaining in the match. OBU's defense held up to the Golden Eagle attack late in the half, not allowing a goal on any of the eight shots JBU posted in the second stanza.
Beck made three of her five saves in the second half on the way to her sixth shutout of the season. She has a 14-4-1 record on the year after picking up the win. Morency finished with four saves, yielding just the lone goal, and closes the 2014 campaign with an 11-5-3 mark, pushing her career record to an impressive 34-14-7. Her 10 shutouts this season broke her previous career best of nine, set last season, and Morency now owns 26 career clean sheets.
Ailee Thompson and Mikayla Lowery each took a match-high three shots, while Baroni attempted two shots on goal to lead the Bison. OBU finished with 12 total shots, including five shots on goal.
Sara Frey attempted three shots to lead John Brown, landing a pair on net. JBU ended the match with 10 shots after attempting only two in the first half.
Seven Golden Eagle careers came to a close as JBU will graduate seniors Rachel Harris, Haylee Massey, Madi Susmilch, Casey O'Brien, Laura Garcia, Adrienne Kennedy and Chloe Fennell.
