OAK CLIFF, Texas -- With a chance to close out the regular season on a five-match winning streak, done only one other time in program history (2003), junior Marco Cardona flicked in his fourth goal of the season in the 65th minute, sending the John Brown men’s soccer team (12-5-1, 8-1-0 SAC) to a 2-1 win in the regular season finale over Southwestern A.G. (Texas) on Saturday (Oct. 31) afternoon at the Life School.
“I am really proud of our boys for ending the regular season well,†said head coach Scott Marksberry. “We were not perfect on the day, but we did what was needed to get a result. A few guys who sat out the final game or two should be back at full speed by Friday. I think our best game is still in us.
“We Will work hard this week to make sure that we hit our stride in the tournament.â€
The victory put an exclamation point on a season that saw the best conference mark in program history. After defeating Texas Wesleyan on Thursday and sewing up the second seed overall in the upcoming tournament, the Golden Eagles will host the No. 7 seed at Alumni Field on Friday (Nov. 6) evening.
Senior Guilherme Barbosa scored his third goal in four games when he converted a penalty kick in the 35th minute to hand the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead. Freshman Conner Haney dribbled into the box and absorbed a hard tackle, setting up JBU’s lead.
While the lead continued into the half, SAGU (8-8-1, 3-5-0 SAC) tied the match in the 52nd minute when Robert Ambrosie netted his 17th of the season.
Again, another fit of heroics was needed for a result, and this time it came in the form of a timely throw-in. With 25 minutes left in the match, freshman Giovani Bejarano launched a throw-in from the right flank deep into the box, where Cardona, facing the sidelines, flicked a cheeky header over SAGU keeper Cesar Espana and into the net. Bejarano picked up his first collegiate point on the helper.
Three of Cardona's four goals this season have stood up as game-winners.
Making his first collegiate start, freshman Connor Georgopulos (2-0-0) maintained his undefeated record, recording six saves on seven shots sent his way. After senior Adam Holt was felled to injury last week, Georgopulos has nabbed a pair of wins in two games while counterpart Britt Wisener landed the victory against Texas Wesleyan.
John Brown out-shot the hosts 12-10 on the afternoon.
