OKLAHOMA CITY -- Host Mid-America Christian (Okla.) found the scoreboard first, but the No. 24 John Brown University women's soccer team responded with three unanswered goals, including two in the second half just over a minute apart, to complete a 3-1 comeback win over the Evangels on Tuesday night (Oct. 18) at Dill Field.
Junior Aniyah Gibbs opened the scoring for the Golden Eagles (9-4-0, 5-1-0 Sooner Athletic) in the 21st minute to level the match at one, while sophomores Bella Graber and Elise Bosma each contributed a pair of assists in John Brown's 12-th consecutive victory over MACU (4-9-1, 3-2-1).
Junior Lauren Walter's 12th goal of the season in the 75th minute stood as the game-winner, her first of the season, when she finished a beautiful combination play through the middle. Graber's pass up the Bosma set up the play, allowing Bosma to slide a pass to her left to an oncoming Walter towards goal. Walter made no mistake, burying a shot just outside the box for a 2-1 lead for the visitors.
Just 67 seconds later, junior Gifte Pavatt added some insurance for JBU's sixth win in seven matches away from Siloam Springs. Graber's corner service found Pavatt at the back post, marking the third Graber assist from the flag in the past two matches.
The host Evangels broke the ice 13 minutes into the contest when Kealy Suarez netted her third of the season from Francesca Martella and Kanasa Spybuck. Senior Chloe Griffin and the John Brown back line wouldn't allow another incursion for the final 77:27 of the match, however, and limited MACU to just three shots on goal in the contest.
Making her first start of the season after coming back from injury, Gibbs tied the contest eight minutes later by burying a loose ball in the goal area after a crafty redirection from Bosma. Freshman Aubrey Winter's low service from the corner generated the mayhem in the box that lead to the goal.
Griffin made two saves – one in each half – to improve to 9-3-0 on the season. Makayla Farquharson absorbed the loss for the Evangels, despite turning away 11 of John Brown's 14 shots on goal.
The visitors out-shot MACU by a 22-10 margin, 14-3 in shot on target, and racked up a 13-1 advantage in corner kick chances.
John Brown will close out its road trip with its final road match of the regular season on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 22) in McPherson, Kan. The Golden Eagles will tangle with Central Christian in a 3 p.m. matinee contest that will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network.
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