CHICKASHA, Okla. -- Sophomore Gifte Pavatt's 16-yard shot to the left side of the goal in the 68th minute completed the comeback and delivered the No. 7 John Brown University women's soccer team its sixth Sooner Athletic regular season title in program history on Tuesday (Oct. 27) afternoon at Drover Pitch.
After conceding a goal just 88 seconds into the match, senior Megan Hutto leveled the match at one in the 50th minute before Pavatt's heroics capped off a gorgeous passing play through the Drover defense, allowing the Golden Eagles (14-1-0, 8-0-0 Sooner Athletic) to capture its fourth regular season crown in six seasons and second back-to-back title in that span.
In order to finish as outright champions, John Brown must land a victory on Senior Night, scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 30) when the Golden Eagles host Southwestern Christian (Okla.) in the regular season finale. If JBU can muster a win, it would conclude the fifth perfect SAC season in program history (2007, 16, 17, 20, 21).
By guaranteeing at least a share of the crown, John Brown forces SAC opponents to win at Alumni Field, where the Golden Eagle will hold home-pitch advantage throughout the tournament, with the quarterfinals scheduled to begin on Saturday (Nov. 6) afternoon.
The Drovers' (13-4-0, 7-1-0) opened the scoring on the first shot of the contest, when Mackenzie Holub fired in her 12th of the season, beating senior Caitlyn Logan to the short side on a one-on-one after breaking in behind the Golden Eagle back line. After that, Logan stood tall for 88 minutes.
Making four saves in the first half, a couple of the acrobatic variety deflecting shots over the crossbar, Logan positioned John Brown for a proper response in the second half, and the visitors delivered. After both teams attempted six shots in the first half, John Brown tipped the scales after the intermission.
While amassing 12 shots, to USAO's four, in the final 45 minutes of play, the Golden Eagles finally tied the match on its eighth shot of the afternoon when Hutto's shot through the box from the left side took a carom off a Drover defender, lost speed and changed angle to find the back of the goal behind Moa Zakrisson. Senior Alair Love pushed the ball into Hutto before her shot, notching her fourth assist of the season.
This "decent" finish means the road to the tournament championship runs through Siloam Springs!
Posted by John Brown University Athletics on Tuesday, October 26, 2021
The goal brought momentum back to the visitors' side as John Brown began to maintain more possession and strong field position. Hutto and junior Kylie Kilfoy each had shots until John Brown found the game winner.
Senior Vanessa Reynoso began the play in the midfield by pushing a pass out wide on the left flank. Love played into Hutto in the middle, who one-touched a pass to Reynoso, drawing in the Drover defenders. With supreme presence of mind, Reynoso played the ball right to a wide-open Pavatt. Pavatt took one touch, and let go a rocket just inside the box that Zakrisson managed to get one hand on, but the shot proved too strong as it continued to curl just inside the far left post.
Logan was called upon to make a pair of saves over the next eight minutes until John Brown took complete control of the final 15 minutes of the contest. During that span, the Golden Eagles racked up six shots and six corner kicks that ended any dreams of a Drover comeback effort.
JBU finished the match with an 18-10 shooting advantage and a commanding 13-7 margin in corner kicks. Sophomores Lauren Walter and Ryan Winingham posted five and four shots, respectively, while Holub led all players with seven attempts towards goal.
After the USAO goal, the John Brown defense played excellent defense, limiting the nation's leading scorer, Emma Rice, to one shot on goal in 90 minutes of play.
The victory marked the second time in five season that John Brown claimed the SAC regular season title in Chickasha. In 2017, sophomore Kristen Howell's 61st minute goal delivered the Blue and Gold a 1-0 victory at Drover Pitch.
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