SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Senior Ashby Clark became just the fourth player in program history to score four goals in a single match, and he did it in improbable fashion, as the John Brown University men's soccer team took Texas Wesleyan to task, posting a 4-1 win on Thursday (Oct. 25) evening at Alumni Field.
Clark, who entered the contest goalless this season, posted a quartet of goals in a 7:15 span that quickly placed the contest out of reach, helping John Brown (7-7-1, 4-4-0) capture at least the sixth seed in next week's Sooner Athletic tournament. At best, JBU will finish sixth, with a possiblity of landing in seventh, depending on the outcome of Saturday's match, at 1 p.m., with Southwestern A.G. (Texas).
Seniors Conner Haney and Santiago Vanegas each racked up a pair of assists, while senior Ryan Williams and sophomore Elias McCloud each added a helper - all on Clark first-half goals.
Clark's first goal opened the scoring when he headed in a Vanegas corner at the near post.
Less than four minutes later, Clark was the recipient of a strong passing play that started with Haney in the midfield. Haney found McCloud streaking up the middle and passed it through the defense to McCloud, who passed off to the right to Clark inside the box. Clark accepted the pass, settled and fired home an eigtht-yard strike that served as the game-winner and the start of something special.
Just 45 seconds later, John Brown caught the Wesleyan defense flat-footed and a 2-on-1 developed because of a Haney pass through the defense. Williams guided a pass from the right side to Clark for an empty-net strike and the completion of the 26th hat trick in program history.
Not quite finished, Clark ripped a shot into a yawning net off a great Vanegas free-kick service from the right flank in the 12th minute.
TXWES (6-8-1, 2-5-1) ruined the John Brown shutout bid and freshman Jens Keemers' collegiate debut when Claudio Barraza scored from the penalty kick marker with less than three minutes left in the contest.
While senior Britt Wisener was not called on to make a save in the first half, Keemers came up with a pair in the second half, including robbing Barraza in the 52nd minute at point-blank range.
Wisener was credited with the victory and moved to 7-7-1 on the year. Wesleyan's Bastian Blumenberg was hit with the loss, despite making seven saves on 11 chances.
Leo Peirano, twice, and George Mondi each have scored four goals in the Blue and Gold in single match. In 1996, Conrad Whyte cemented the all-time single-game record with five goals against Columbia (Mo.) in JBU's 7-2 victory.
