BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- The tandem of Kaja Cremin and Marjolen Nekesa combined for three goals and three assists and despite the No. 16 John Brown University women's soccer team building a 23-13 shooting advantage, Oklahoma Wesleyan upended the Golden Eagles 3-1 on Tuesday evening (Sept. 19) at the OKWU Soccer Complex.
John Brown (5-2-0) had its four-match winning streak snapped while Wesleyan (5-1-1) extended its unbeaten streak to four.
"We definitely didn't have our best game," admitted head coach Kathleen Paulsen. "We got exposed tonight in a lot of places. There are a lot of things we saw tonight that we need to get better at. This definitely humbled us a little bit. Oklahoma Wesleyan is a talented side, and we we're ready to go tonight."
Despite out-shooting the hosts 9-5 in the first half and owning a 5-1 corner kick advantage, OKWU struck first in the 32nd minute on a fast break when Nekesa's pass up the right wing sprung Cremin on her first one-on-one with JBU keeper Caitlyn Logan of the evening. Cremind buried a shot to the top near corner for her sixth of the season.
Both teams battled through opportunities for the majority of the second half as the Golden Eagles peppered Wesleyan keeper Sydney Vickers with 14 shots in the latter frame, including sophomore Kristen Howell's rocket that shook the goal frame when it hit the crossbar and shot straight up and out of bounds in the 59th minute.
With the Golden Eagles pressing for the equalizer, OKWU took advantage in the 81st minute when Nekesa ripped a 22-yard shot to the right side of the goal past Logan. Cremin originally laid off a pass into the middle, setting up Nekesa's eighth goal of the year.
JBU finally broke through just three minutes later. Junior Jastin Redman's rip in the box was saved by Vickers, but the keeper couldn't corral the rebound, allowing an oncoming Katherine Haar to deposit her first of the season off the rebound.
With just seven minutes left in the match, John Brown again looked for the game-tying goal, but to no avail. Freshman Sienna Nealon's attempt was blocked by Vickers and just two minutes after the Golden Eagles struck, OKWU finished off the contest with its third of the night when Nekesa again sprung Cremin through the John Brown back line. One-on-one with Logan, Cremin's left-footed volley to the bottom right corner of the goal 15 yards out provided the insurance needed, sending Logan to her first collegiate loss.
Vickers was forced to make 14 saves and moved to 5-1-1 on the year. Logan made three saves on six Wesleyan shots on target.
The Golden Eagles close non-conference play on Thursday (Sept. 21) when Texas A&M – Texarkana visits Alumni Field for a 5 p.m. kick-off.
