SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Junior Anna Brown scored early in the contest and goals from junior Jastin Redman and freshman Sienna Nealon in the second half placed the match out of reach as the top-seeded and No. 17 John Brown University women's soccer team ended fifth-seeded Oklahoma City's season with a 3-0 victory in the Sooner Athletic tournament semifinals on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 7) at Alumni Field.
Redman netted her 14th of the season in the 48th minute, the game's insurance marker, and assisted on Brown's game-winner in the 11th minute as the Golden Eagles (18-2-0) advanced to the tournament final for a fifth-consecutive season.
JBU will now host second-seeded and No. 23 Science & Arts (Okla.), after the Drovers' 4-1 win in the other semifinal over third-seeded Texas Wesleyan, for a rematch of last year's title game, won by the Golden Eagles by a 2-0 final. The two teams have met in each of the last three championships matches.
| Year |
Opponent |
Location |
Result |
| 2013 |
Oklahoma City |
Stars Field |
1-1 Draw
JBU wins PKs, 3-1 |
| 2014 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
OBU Soccer Complex |
1-0 Loss |
| 2015 |
Science & Arts |
Drover Pitch |
1-1 Draw
USAO wins PKs, 5-3 |
| 2016 |
Science & Arts |
Alumni Field |
2-0 Win |
| 2017 |
Science & Arts |
Alumni Field |
2-1 Loss (2OT) |
"I think she's her best when something is on the line," said head coach Kathleen Paulsen of Redman's three-point effort. "She's clutch in big moments."
Oklahoma City (10-7-1) struggled to create any offense, and when it could in the second half, freshman keeper Maggie Allen was up to the task, making a lone save in the final frame to record her third clean sheet of the season and improving her record to 12-0-0 this season.
Brown's second game-winner came off a beautiful feed from Redman on the right wing after Redman beat a pair of Stars defenders, similar to the play in which she scored the game-winner in JBU's 1-0 win at City in the regular season. After maneuvering around her marks, Redman send a low, hard cross through the box that found Brown at the back post. Brown one-touched a shot to the near side from six yards away, placing the visitors in an early hole.
Redman's insurance goal came off a beautiful flick from recently-named SAC Player of the Year Sara Frey in the midfield. Redman than changed direction in the flat, losing two defenders, and let go a left footed shot to the right side of the goal from 10 yards, doubling JBU's lead.
with just over seven minutes to play, Nealon added a dagger, her ninth tally of the season, when junior Melody Hagen's 30 yard pass through the City back line on the counter-attack broke Nealon free. With City keeper Kirsten Thomas coming out to challenge, Nealon cut to her right and deposited the ball into the empty goal, solidifying the Golden Eagles' semifinal victory.
JBU out-shot the visitors 12-3 and limited City to just one shot on goal.
The Golden Eagles will now host its second-consecutive championship match on Friday (Nov. 10) at 6 p.m.
