SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Freshman Aspen Robinson scored a pair of first-half goals, including the game-winner in the 16th minute and junior Sara Lachance added a natural hat trick in the second period as the third-seeded John Brown womens soccer team (12-6-1) posted a convincing 5-1 victory over sixth-seeded Texas Wesleyan in the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals on Saturday (Nov. 7) night at Alumni Field.
Senior Nicole Kosin, sophomore Sara Frey and freshman Anne Metz each contributed a pair of assists while senior Alex Fahr and freshman Melody Hagen also added a helper. Beyond scoring multiple goals, Lachance and Robinson also notched assists in the victory.
Robinsons five-point outing began early in the first half with her two goals coming just four minutes apart. The scoring opened in the 12the minute when Frey stole the ball at midfield and played a pass up to Hagen. Hagen dished a quick pass to Robinson who then turned and unleashed a 25-yard bomb from the middle of the field, dropping just under the crossbar and over the leaping TWU keeper Nikki Lockwood.
Robinsons sharp-shooting wasnt done, however, and just four minutes later, she collected her 11th goal of the season. Lachance began the play by connecting with Metz deep down the left flank. Metz sent a centering cross into the box where Robinson collected at the left side of the box before striking a shot to the far right corner of the goal.
The first half wasnt all Golden Eagle scoring. Wesleyan (9-7-1) made things interesting in the 24th minute when Lauren Marquez notched her 15th of the season when she tipped a flick past junior Hannah Poor. Theresa Garsztecki sent a direct kick into the box from the right flank before Kaitlin Bush tipped the pass to Marquez, pulling the visitors within one, 2-1.
John Brown controlled the majority of the first half, out-shooting the Rams, 13-4.
Similar to Robinson in the first half, Lachance provided all the scoring needed in the second period.
In an odd play, Lachance earned her fifth of the season after Fahr played a pass deep into the left corner in the 57th minute. Kosin sent in another cross attempt, which was misplayed by both a Ram defender and Lockwood. Fortunately, Lachance was waiting at the doorstep and tapped in the matchs insurance marker, returning to JBU its two-goal cushion.
Just 86 seconds later, Lachance converted a broken play for a 4-1 lead. Robinson, after taking a pass from Metz, let go a shot that was partially deflected by a Wesleyan defender, sending the ball across the top of the 18. Lachance emerged as the first on the scene at the left side of the box and uncorked a shot to the far right post from 10 yards out, unguarded.
Finally, in the 66th minute, Lachance completed the natural hat trick in impressive fashion. Frey began the play with a pass up to Kosin in the middle, who laid off a side-pass for an oncoming Lachance. Lachance cut through the box, past a TWU defender, and laid a short-side shot under Lockwood to the near left post from six yards away.
“That was a great team performance,†said head coach Kathleen Paulsen. “I thought we played great team soccer. Sara [Lachance] was unbelievable today, Anne [Metz] had some assists and Aspen [Robinson] played very well. Honestly, every piece was important in tonights win.
“We executed our game plan well. We kept the ball and we kept it moving. Playing out style allows us to find success.â€
Poor (12-5-1) recorded five saves in the victory while Lockwood (9-7-1) was hit with the loss, allowing five goals on 12 shots.
The Golden Eagles will face a familiar challenge in the tournament semifinals, when it travels to Oklahoma City on Tuesday (Nov. 10) to take to Stars Field for the second time this season. Second-seeded City defeated seventh-seeded Southwestern A.G. (Texas), 3-1, in quarterfinal action. JBU and the Stars battled to a 1-1 double-overtime draw earlier this season in Oklahoma City.
