SILOAM SPRINGS -- For the first time in 37 matches, the Golden Eagles were unable to find the back of the goal as No. 15 Cumberlands (Ky.) battled to a 2-0 win over the No. 6 John Brown University women's soccer team in the NAIA National Championships Opening Round final on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 20) at Alumni Field.
John Brown, finishing the season 18-2-0, hadn't been held scoreless since Nov. 23, 2019, nearly two years to the day. With another pair of season-ending injuries suffered in the contest, head coach Dr. Kathleen Paulsen had lost six projected season-opening starters to significant or season-ending injuries.
Despite the loss, in the 2021 calendar season, the Golden Eagles successfully amassed a 33-2-1 mark over the spring and fall seasons, registering a .931 win percentage and successfully hoisting consecutive Sooner Athletic regular season and tournament titles.
The Golden Eagles surrendered multiple goals for the first time this season. Senior Caitlyn Logan played valiantly, however, stopping five of the Patriots' seven shots on target.
After Cumberlands broke the stalemate in the 33rd minute by Selena Barnett poking in the game-winner after Logan originally came out to stop Jillian Zurborg's shot, John Brown came out firing in the second half.
Out-shooting the visiting Patriots 5-3 in the second half, the Golden Eagles were just unable to beat Laura Vogt, who has conceded just one goal in her last 10 matches, as the visitors added an insurance policy in the 78th minute off Laura Navajas Marin's shot to the right side of the goal for her sixth of the season. The feed came courtesy of Jayden Boelter.
Cumberlands narrowly out-shot JBU, 12-10, and the hosts attempted more corner kicks by a 7-3 edge.
The Patriots advance to Orange Beach and await the NAIA's release of the final site bracket, which is set to kick off on Nov. 30 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.
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