SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- In the final match of the JBU Invitational, the John Brown womens soccer team (2-4-0) received a goal from freshman Jastin Redman in the sixth minute and seven saves from junior keeper Hannah Poor to collect a 1-0 victory over Kansas Wesleyan (3-3-0) on Saturday (Sept. 12) at Alumni Field.
The loss snaps John Browns two-game losing skid, behind seven saves from Poor, marking her first collegiate shutout. Against Central Baptist (Ark.) on Aug. 28, Poor and freshman Hannah Marsh shared the clean sheet.
In a matchup full of physicality and precision, the Golden Eagles had to be aware of the Coyotes dynamic duo up front, Roxy Gomez and Cynthia Chavez. Both strikers had their opportunities, especially Gomez, who led the match in shots (5) and shots on goal (3), but the JBU defense closed gaps and held lines when needed. Poors seven stops included none bigger than in the 78th minute when Gomez was able to collect a loose ball in the slot. Gomez fired on target, but Poor was able to track the ball through a crowded box, recovering from the other side of the goal mouth to make the save.
Redman opened the scoring when she tallied her team-leading fourth goal of the season in the sixth minute. Senior Alex Fahr threw in a ball that wasnt controlled by the Coyote defense, falling to the feet of Redman. From outside the box deep in the left flank, Redman bent in a volley just below the crossbar and just inside the right post, over the outstretched arms of KWU keeper Rachel Cardell.
In just six matches, Redman has already posted four goals and three assists (11 points).
With 15 minutes left in the match and facing a 1-0 deficit, Wesleyan subbed back in Gomez and Chavez, hoping to make a final push. Gomez had a chance in the box blocked by a recovering Samantha Weber in the 76th minute before Poors save on Gomez in the 78th. The visitors had one final opportunity to score as Katie Hernanez had to uncork a turn-around shot in the center box, but Poor managed to scoop up the final desperation attempt with just over four minutes to play.
The Coyotes, who are receiving votes in the preseason NAIA National Coaches Top-25 Poll, were fresh off a 3-2 victory over Oklahoma City on Thursday (Sept. 10). Behind Gomezs match-leading five shots was Hernandez with four and Hanna Muddle with a pair. Cardwell (2-1-0) absorbed her first loss of the season as JBU ended the Coyotes three-match winning streak.
Redman led all Golden Eagles with five shots while junior Sara Lachance tallied four. Freshman Aspen Robinson contributed three in the victory.
John Brown outshot Kansas Wesleyan 15-14 on the evening, but the visitors held a 7-3 advantage in shots on target.
The Golden Eagles will now rest until Friday (Sept. 18) when Texas A&M â€" Texarkana invades Alumni Field for a 7 p.m. showdown.
