SILOAM SPRINGS -- Freshman Lauren Walter's eighth goal of the season broke open a second half deadlock, and the No. 11 John Brown University women's soccer team staved off the high-powered offense of No. 12 Oklahoma Wesleyan to hold on to a 2-1 full-time victory on Saturday (April 17) afternoon at Alumni Field in the NAIA National Championships Opening Round final.
Freshman Gifte Pavatt netted a goal, her second of the season, just 5:56 into the contest, while senior Caitlyn Logan played a spectacular match between the three posts, totaling six saves against the nation's second-best offense, which averaged 4.7 goals per game entering the contest. John Brown (14-0-0) has now won two matches in a single NAIA National Championships series for the first time in program history.
While both teams fired seven shots on target, Wesleyan (18-3-0) finished with a slight 17-15 shooting advantage in the contest. The nation's leading scorer, Marjolen Nekesa also made an appearance, scoring her 36th of the season to tie the match at one in the 32nd minute, but beyond that, the John Brown back line suffocated the OKWU scoring machine.
WHAT'S AHEAD
The final site is a ten-team, single elimination bracket with teams seeded 1-10. Final site bracket seeding was based on the original seed of each team, which was determined by the NAIA Women's Soccer National Selection Committee prior to the Opening Round.
The 40 qualifying teams for the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round were seeded 1-40 prior to being placed in the ten Opening Round sites. As Opening Round winners are determined and advance to the final site, teams were placed in the final site bracket in rank order according to their original overall seed.
The Golden Eagles, which are the ninth-highest seed remaining, will take on the eight seed Central Methodist (Mo.) on Tuesday (April 27) at 1 p.m. The clash will happen at the Foley Sports Tourism Championship Field in Foley, Ala.
The winner of the second round match will advance to face the field's top seed, William Carey (Miss.) two days later on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the national quarterfinals. |
JBU blocked six of the Eagles' 17 shot attempts en route to remaining perfect at Alumni Field (3-0-1) in NAIA National Championships Opening Round action. Of the ten Opening Round sites, John Brown was only one of two non-top seed teams to win its bracket (Eastern Oregon). The Golden Eagles were also the only non-top seed host to advance to Alabama.
With under 13 minutes left in regulation, Logan's punt landed in the midfield, but senior Vanessa Reynoso was able to win a second ball off a poor touch from the Wesleyan midfield, one-touching an advancing pass up to Walter. The freshman turned and, with a pair of defenders on her heels, bolted across the top of the 18 before letting go a left-footed shot that was perfectly tucked inside the far right post, vaulting John Brown into a 2-1 lead for good.
Fighting for its postseason life, Wesleyan finished out the last 12:17 with three shots – all on goal – but none could beat Logan, including Nekesa's right-footed blast to the near left post with 8:52 remaining as Logan was up to the task – deflecting the ball past the near post.
Pavatt's goal began in the midfield with sophomore Aubrey Mendez's service towards goal. Corralled and perfectly chested ahead by junior Megan Hutto, the one-touch pass sprung Pavatt up the left side into a one-on-one with OKWU keeper Reagan Willmon. Pavatt perfectly placed a ball to the far right post, sending the capacity crowd at Alumni Field into celebration.
OKWU nearly took a 2-1 lead with just over 23 minutes remaining. Nekesa's through ball sprung Tania Mocholi on the right side and, with a 20 yard spread, came in on Logan one-on-one, but the shot attempt rolled just past the far left post, preserving the 1-1 draw at the time.
Walter's goal stood to be the game-winner, her third of the season. She joins senior Vanessa Reynoso and freshman Ryan Winingham atop the game-clinching goal category.
With the win, the Golden Eagles advance to the final site of Foley, Alabama and will enter the bracket as the nine seed. John Brown will take on Central Methodist (Mo.), the eight seed, in the second round of the 2020 NAIA National Championships on Tuesday (April 27) at 1 p.m. The winner of the contest advance to face No. 1 William Carey on Thursday at 1 p.m.
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