SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- As overtime loomed with certainty, junior Sienna Nealon returned to her ways of scoring big-time goals as her tally deep in the second half propelled the No. 13 John Brown University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Columbia (Mo.) on Saturday (Sept. 7) evening at Alumni Field.
After the teams combined for just five shot attempts in the first half, the Golden Eagles (3-1-0) opened up the second half by launching 10 shot attempts towards Columbia keeper Victoria Heus, and finally, Nealon buried her first of the season and ninth career game-winner.
Off a failed Cougar (3-2-0) defensive clear, freshman Aubrey Mendez dumped a pass off to senior Kristen Howell on the right wing. Howell send in a long cross that skimmed the head of a Columbia defender and continued towards the back post. Running towards goal with perfect timing, Nealon knocked in the game-winner with just over 20 minutes left in the match.
JBU nearly doubled its advantage just three minutes later when sophomore Megan Hutto unleashed an uncontested shot from 12 yards, but Heus made an incredible save to her left, just before Howell's attempt at the rebound was also blocked to preserve the one-goal contest.
Columbia could manage just one more shot attempt over the final 17 minutes of play, and it went high over the John Brown goal.
The John Brown back line comprised of Mendez, senior Sarah Hughes, sophomore Megan Kennedy, junior Emily Jordan and freshman Emma Schoenberg kept Columbia's Molly Klein and Kelsey Mirts off balance all evening. Mirts, coming off a five-goal performance against Ottawa (Kan.), was limited to just one shot attempt while Klein posted four. The pair combined for just one shot on goal.
Mendez, Hughes and Kennedy each logged the full 90, helping junior Caitlyn Logan collect her third clean sheet of the season. Logan needed just one save on the evening - 15 seconds into the second half, when she blocked a Klein attempt on goal.
Howell led all players with six shot attempts, while Nealon followed with three.
Victoria Heus' valiant effort in goal for Columbia finished with seven saves on eight John Brown attempts on frame.
Up Next
After wrapping up the season-opening four-match homestand with a 3-1-0 record, the Golden Eagles will depart for Columbia, Ky. for its toughest two-match stretch of the season. JBU will face Martin Methodist (Tenn.) on Thursday (Sept. 12) at 5 p.m. before tangling with Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) on Saturday in the nightcap.
