Third-Consecutive Holt Shutout Helps Men's Soccer to 3-0 Win over Saint Francis

SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Sophomore keeper Adam Holt collected his third-straight shutout and the John Brown men’s soccer team (2-2-1) received two second-half goals to put away Saint Francis (Ind.), 3-0, on Thursday (Sept. 10) at Alumni Field.

Holt (2-2-1) needed only one save in the clean-sheet victory, pushing his shutout streak to 239:59, dating back to Aug. 22 at No. 6 Mobile (Ala.) in which he conceded a goal in the 31st minute. Freshman backup Britt Wisener owns 45:00 of the streak due to playing the second half against Evangel (Mo.) on Sept. 5.

Senior Will Simonds scored his second college goal in the 35th minute off a double-header and freshmen Conner Haney and Ryan Williams each struck in the second half. The Golden Eagles out-shot the Cougars (0-5-0) by a 34-7 margin on the night.

”We had a pretty solid outing tonight,” admitted head coach Scott Marksberry. “Our possession was as good as it has been all season and we created some really great chances. We were also very good defensively after the first 20 minutes. Adam made one good save, but it was really the only time he was called on to bail us out. I would have liked to see us score on a few more of our chances, but all three goals were quality goals.”

Williams blasted in his third of the season, and third in two games, in the 77th minute after freshman Ashby Clark burned past a defender up the right flank. Just before hitting the goal line, Clark crossed a low pass into the slot where Williams rifled home the third goal of the evening.

The helper marked Clark’s second collegiate assist.

The Golden Eagles received its insurance goal in the 54th minute, courtesy of Haney’s first collegiate strike. Haney buried a shot from 10 yards out in the slot off a feed from sophomore Collin Smith, who earned his second helper of the season.

John Brown scored the first goal of the match off a beautiful set piece in the 35th minute. Freshman Santiago Vanegas crossed in a corner kick that found the head of senior Cory Cole at the edge of the box. Cole redirected the service to the far left post where Simonds was stationed, allowing him to head home the game-winner.

Senior Guilherme Barbosa led all players with six shots in the match while Haney and Williams each added four apiece. John Brown has now fired 97 shots in its last three contests, scoring nine goals over the span.

Jesse Flores (0-5-0) absorbed the loss in goal for USF, recording six saves in the losing effort. Alex Da Silva led all Cougars with two shots, one on net.

The Golden Eagles will return to action on Saturday (Sept. 12) when it travels to Atchison, Kan., to face Benedictine (Kan.) in a 7:30 p.m. affair.

”Benedictine will be a very tough game on short rest Saturday night,” admitted Marksberry. “We will do our best to get our legs back and do some prep work before we leave for Atchison.”