SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- In a rematch of last year's edition of the Sooner Athletic tournament championship, the script got flipped courtesy of a 40-yard free kick, and the top-seeded and No. 17 John Brown University women's soccer team endured a stunning 2-1 loss to second-seeded and No. 23 Science & Arts (Okla.) on Friday night (Nov. 10) at Alumni Field.
Lindsay Daugherty blasted a free kick just 48 seconds into the second overtime that beat freshman Maggie Allen, sending the Drovers (17-3-1) to its second tournament title in three seasons.
In a match that saw the Golden Eagles dominate possession after 20 minutes of play and rack up 18 shots, allowing just three, JBU (18-3-0) managed to just get two of its shots on target, and started the match back on its heels after a surprising start.
As quickly as the overtime dagger came, the visitors jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 98 seconds into the contest when Allie Gordon let go a 20-yard shot that trickled just inside the right post after making a run through the John Brown back line. Daugherty's pass sprung Gordon up the middle before her unassuming shot found a place just inside the post for a 1-0 Drover advantage.
After fending off the remainder of its early-match nerves, the Golden Eagles went to work and out-shot the visitors 5-1 in the first half, including senior Sara Frey's 27-yard rip to the top of the goal in the 22nd minute.
The Alumni Field faithful let out a collective sigh of relief when sophomore Katherine Haar persevered through traffic and stepped out to challenge at the right moment, blocking a Drover clearing attempt. After bouncing high in the air and taking a odd bounce back into the middle, Frey unleashed her ninth tally of the season.
The second half featured a Golden Eagle onslaught as Science & Arts hung on to stay alive as JBU fired 11 shot attempts in the period. And in the 68th minute, John Brown almost found its winner.
Off a corner kick from junior Anne Metz, junior Jastin Redman went up for the ball at the back post, but her usually-accurate attempt found nothing but crossbar as the Golden Eagles remained looking for the game-winner.
The first overtime went without a scoring chance for either team. And it wasn't until the foul occurred in the middle of the field 48 seconds into double overtime did the Drovers manage to find the title-winning shot.
USAO keeper Brandi Hutchison made just one save, but it was enough to help USAO claim the SAC's lone automatic berth into the 2017 NAIA National Championships. Allen (12-1-0) was dinged with her first collegiate loss.
The Golden Eagles must now wait until Monday (Nov. 13) to see if they will be granted one of the few at-large berths into the tournament.
