McPHERSON, Kan. -- Senior Aspen Carpenter and junior Kristen Howell each tallied a goal and two assists (4 points), leading the No. 7 John Brown University women's soccer team to a 7-0 trouncing of Central Christian (Kan.) on Saturday (Oct. 20) afternoon at the Ed Pyle Sports Complex.
Senior Melody Hagen headed in her first goal of the season and junior Sarah Hughes did her best reenactment, also tallying a header goal off a corner service, for her first of the season.
Sophomore Paige Kula opened the scoring and later added a helper while sophomore Audrey Balafas and freshman Alair love scored unassisted markers late in the contest to complete the scoring.
Seven different players scored for John Brown, and three players earned their first goals of the season.
The lopsided affair featured a 21-3 shooting advantage in favor of the Golden Eagles (12-2-1, 4-1-1 Sooner Athletic), which completed its three-match road trip with a perfect record. JBU moved to a perfect 9-0-0 away from Alumni Field this season.
Kula opened the scoring in the eighth minute after Howell fed her across the top of the box. Kula ripped a shot to the far right side of the goal from just outside the box, earning her first-career game-winning goal.
Carpenter combined with Howell, who has six points in her last two outings, seven minutes later and launched a strike to the bottom right corner from the top of the box, posting her fourth of the season.
Hagen finished the first-half scoring with a header at the near post in the 30th minute. Kula's service from the corner was tipped by Carpenter before Hagen directed into the net at the near post.
Hughes completed JBU's second goal of the afternoon off a corner play in the 48th minute. From about six yards out, Hughes headed in the Carpenter service to the near right side of the goal.
In the 61st, sophomore Sienna Nealon sent Howell up the right flank before Howell let go a shot across the goal and just inside the left post. The 18-yard strike was Howell's fourth of the season.
In the final 10 minutes, John Brown received clinical individual efforts from Love and Balafas, as the duo each added unassisted markers. Love maneuvered her way around a trio of defenders before sliding a technical strike past CCC keeper Keely King. Balafas let go a rip from outside the box to the far left post and in.
Sophomore Caitlyn Logan needed just two saves to complete her 10th clean sheet of the season. There was a dramatic moment, however, when Alexa Riddle appeared to have ruined Logan's shutout bid in the 65th minute, but the service hit the crossbar and failed to cross the goal line completely.
Keeping pace with Science & Arts (Okla.) and Oklahoma City, the Golden Eagles enter the final week of the regular season on pace to at least share a Sooner Athletic regular season title.
JBU will have to go through Texas Wesleyan and Southwestern A.G. (Texas), however, but both contests will be at Alumni Field on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
