OKLAHOMA CITY -- Despite a 10-6 shooting advantage in the second half, the Golden Eagles weren't able to level the match after conceding a goal with 8:12 left in the match, as the John Brown University men's soccer team fell 2-1 in a gritty slugfest at No. 1 Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Tuesday night (Oct. 18) at Dill Field.
Senior Ivan Garcia's second of the season squared the match at one apiece just before halftime, but John Brown (7-2-3, 3-2-1 Sooner Athletic) wasn't able to find a second goal despite playing a man-up for the final 58:38 of the evening.
Garcia's 28-yard free kick from outside the box on the left side took a minor deflection off the wall, but still had plenty of momentum to find the back of the goal, tied the game at one with just 30 seconds left in the first half, but the visitors weren't able to find additional scoring in the second half.
John Brown out-shot the Evangels 10-6 in the second frame, but Georg Westerlund's fourth of the season all but ended the JBU upset bid in the 82nd minute as the forward tapped in a rebound at the right side of the goal for the game-winner.
MACU (12-1-1, 5-0-1) opened the scoring in the 11th minute as a result of Jack Price finished off a combination play from Westerlund and Bruno Sperandio in the middle of the box.
The hosts nearly doubled its lead in the 30th minute, but sophomore Kyle Hix recorded his first career penalty kick stop, diving to his right to reject Ricardo Ferreira's bid for a ninth goal on the season. Sophomore Kendall Acuna rushed in a cleared the rebound over the end line to end the Evangel threat.
Hix took the loss in goal, falling to 3-1-1 on the season, while Jeremi Abonnel improved to 12-1-1. Hix finished with a season-high five saves on seven chances. Abonnel turned away four John Brown shots.
The Golden Eagles close the short two-match road trip on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 22) when John Brown takes on Central Christian (Kan.) at 1 p.m. in McPherson. The matinee matchup is slated to air live on the SAC Sports Network.
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