BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- After controlling the contest for the first 20 minutes, the field began to tilt and remained that way as the No. 13 John Brown University women's soccer team fell in 2-0 fashion at No. 9 Oklahoma Wesleyan on Tuesday night (Sept. 13) inside the OKWU Soccer Complex.
The host Eagles (5-0-0) tallied a goal in each half, in the 35th and 73rd minutes, sending the Golden Eagles (3-2-0) to its fourth-consecutive loss in Bartlesville where John Brown hasn't been able to earn a result since 2004.
The Golden Eagles pushed the envelope and pinned the hosts into their own end for the first 20 minutes of play, racking up the shots and chances. It was a fluke Tania Mocholi goal that broke the scoreless tie in the 35th minute when an odd-looking volley shot from the right side of the box broke over senior Chloe Griffin and just under the crossbar to hand OKWU a 1-0 lead.
The final five minutes of the first half was all John Brown. Three shots from junior Ryan Winingham produced three different results during the span, most importantly a header attempt in the box off a Renny Buchanan corner service that rattled the crossbar in the 43rd minute.
That would be the last John Brown shot attempt until the 86th minute, however, as the host Eagles commanded possession in the second half. Joelle Meister's insurance goal from Laura Maria in the 73rd minute gave OKWU all the cushion it needed to remain undefeated on the season.
Winingham accounted for five of John Brown's nine shot attempts, but Wesleyan held the advantage in shots (21-9) and corner kicks (9-4). Griffin made a career-high nine saves as she dropped to 3-2-0 on the season between the sticks.
JBU returns to the pitch next Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 20) to face its fourth ranked opponent in the last five outings when the Golden Eagles welcome Columbia (Mo.) to Alumni Field. The 5 p.m. kickoff will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network.
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