SILOAM SPRINGS -- Sophomore Ryan Winingham returned to scoring big goals in big games by heading in the trophy-clinching goal while senior Vanessa Reynoso served a pair of assists from the corner flag as the No. 6 John Brown University women's soccer team finished off Science & Arts (Okla.) by a 2-1 final in double overtime Friday (Nov. 12) evening at Alumni Field in the Sooner Athletic tournament championship.
En route to defending the title, Winingham also posted an assist on John Brown's equalizer in the 70th minute before senior Megan Hutto tucked away her seventh of the season.
With the victory, the Golden Eagles (17-1-0) not only improve to 3-4-2 all-time in the SAC tournament title match, but capture the program's fourth postseason title (2013, 16, 20, 21) and ensure the team's eighth trip to the NAIA National Championships.
Now armed with the Sooner Athletics' lone autobid, John Brown is guaranteed a slot in the 40-team field at the 2021 NAIA National Championships. On Thursday (Nov. 4), JBU was selected as one of 10 Opening Round hosts as four teams will vie for one of 10 spots at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.
👑👑👑👑 Winingham! Winingham! Winingham! Ryan's header sends John Brown WSOC dancing for the 8️⃣th time in program history and delivers the Golden Eagles its fourth tournament crown!!
Posted by John Brown University Athletics on Friday, November 12, 2021
In a nearly identical start to the teams' matchup in the regular season at Drover Pitch, the visiting Drovers (16-5-0) scored first, when McKenzie Holub's shot from in close ricocheted off senior Caitlyn Logan's diving hands at the near left post – handing USAO a quick 1-0 lead just eight minutes into the contest. In the season's first matchup, Science & Arts struck just 90 seconds into the match.
The Drovers' Alicia Rey rang a shot off the crossbar just 1:45 into the match, and in the 23rd minute, junior Kylie Kilfoy turned toward goal at the right side of the goal and ripped a shot off the near post. Less than 20 minutes later, freshman Renny Buchanan's shot from the right flank dipped and skimmed the crossbar behind Caitlin Bishop, as the Golden Eagles continued searching for that first goal.
Bishop made two incredible stops in the first half, once rejecting senior Megan Hutto – who would later have her revenge – in close with no one around just yards from the goal, and later a diving save by throwing her hands in front of a dangerous Lauren Walter go at goal as the keeper came out to challenge the JBU striker.
Despite out-shooting the visitors 10-4 in the first half, Bishop's five saves was the difference at the intermission. Logan had two of her own and a little help from the crossbar early on.
The teams traded three shots apiece through the first 25 minutes of the second half, but on JBU's fourth shot, the hosts finally broke through in the form of Hutto's seventh of the season that she poked past Bishop to level the match.
Off a Reynoso corner kick, Winingham headed down the service in the box right to Hutto just yards from the goal behind her defender. Hutto collected the loose ball, turned and tucked in a low shot, forcing a 1-1 tie.
Each team attempted seven shots in the second half, with each keeper coming up with three saves, but the level score necessitated extra time as the squads continued their respective battles in the fifth meeting all-time in the championship clash.
Reynoso and Walter each attempted shots in the first extra time, but neither made it to Bishop. USAO left the first 10-minute session searching for offensive answers as the John Brown defense clamped down.
The Drovers came out in the second session with two consecutive shots, both off target, and then Walter's hustle began the game-winning play.
Off a Logan kick, senior Alair Love played a ball forward to Walter. Despite losing possession, Walter pressured not one but two USAO defenders, blocking both clearing attempts before regaining control of the ball. Eventually earning a corner kick after a Kilfoy shot was blocked past the end line, the hustle gave the Reynoso-Winingham connection another chance.
John Brown would make the most of the opportunity from the right flag in the 106th minute. Reynoso served up her 14th assist of the season as her volley landed perfectly in the box from Winingham to use her size and head home the championship-clinching goal at the near post, sending the Alumni Field faithful into a frenzy.
The goal was Winingham's second game winner of 2021.
Logan made five saves, including a timely save on Holub in a one-on-one after the sneaky Drover followed a booted ball through the JBU back line. Destined for the left side of the goal, Logan came out aggressively and gobbled up the save without allowing extra chances. She improved to 17-1-0 on the season.
Bishop made eight saves on 10 chances, falling to 4-2-1.
The Golden Eagles finished the night with advantage in shots (21-13), shots on goal (10-6) and corner kicks (11-4). Holub's six shots led all players, while Reynoso and Walter each attempted four for John Brown.
John Brown will now gather Monday (Nov. 15) morning at 10 a.m. to learn who will join them in the Siloam Springs bracket of the NAIA National Championships when the national office announces the 40-team field, national seedings and opening round matchups via the #NAIAWSoccer Selection show, scheduled to air on Facebook live.
Gallery: (11-12-2021) vs Science & Arts (Okla.)
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