SILOAM SPRINGS -- Five different Golden Eagles scored and senior Vanessa Reynoso finished off a four-point outing as the top-seeded No. 6 John Brown University women's soccer team ran away with a 5-0 victory over fourth-seeded Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Tuesday (Nov. 9) night at Alumni Field in the Sooner Athletic tournament semifinals.
Sophomore Lauren Walter, junior Kylie Kilfoy, Reynoso, sophomore Ryan Winingham and senior Megan Hutto each tallied goals as the Golden Eagles improved to 16-1-0 on the season and posted its 13th clean sheet of the season.
Looming in the finals is a familiar foe, as second-seed Science & Arts (Okla.) topped Wayland Baptist (Texas) on the other side of the bracket, setting up a rematch of last season's championship tilt. JBU scored twice in the second half to win a 2-1 match at Drover Pitch in Chickasha back on Oct. 26 as the Golden Eagles celebrated another SAC regular season title.
The SAC tournament championship match is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday (Nov. 12) at Alumni Field. The contest will air live on the SAC Sports Network.
After hitting the post on a breakaway, Walter found redemption exactly seven minutes later when she poked a loose ball in the box past MACU keeper Jennifer Starwalt in the 12th minute off a Reynoso service from the corner.
The goal was Walter's team-leading ninth of the season and her third game-winner.
Kilfoy doubled the John Brown lead with a rip off the crossbar and in from 20 yards, off a nice feed from freshman Pam Seiler. The Golden Eagles then added a third just six minutes later in the 30th minute when Reynoso finished a beautiful passing play up the right flank, starting with Hutto. Hutto fed sophomore Gifte Pavatt on the right wing as Pavatt then sent a long cross to the back post, where Reynoso one-touched her fifth of the season to build a 3-0 advantage for the hosts.
While that would end the scoring for John Brown in the first half, Winingham would record her fourth of the season in the 65th minute before Hutto ended the scoring in the 73rd. Freshman Elise Bosma recorded her first collegiate point by assisting Hutto's tally with just under 20 minutes left in the match.
The Golden Eagles dominated the shooting effort, 22-3, limiting the visiting Evangels (10-7-0) to just two shots on target. Senior Caitlyn Logan wrapped up her eighth solo shutout of the season by pushing a Johanna Behrens shot over the crossbar in the 84th minute and improved to 16-1-0 on the season.
Eight players recorded shots in the contest for John Brown, led by five from Walter and three from Reynoso.
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