SILOAM SPRINGS -- Using corner kicks to its advantage, the Golden Eagles scored a pair of goals off services from the corner flag in the first 5:28 of the match and never looked back, avenging an earlier 0-0 draw, by running away with a 3-1 victory over fourth-seeded Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Tuesday (Nov. 7) afternoon at Alumni Field in the Sooner Athletic tournament semifinals.
Senior Gifte Pavatt opened the scoring with her header at the back post, while senior Lauren Walter quickly doubled the lead just 64 seconds later – taking advantage of a crucial MACU miscue on the recycle.
Walter completed her fourth brace of the season in the second half, netting her 16th of the season.
While generating only three shots on target, MACU broke the John Brown clean sheet bid in the 39th minute when Annika Gerdau's free kick founds its way around a Golden Eagle wall that wasn't lined up with the far left post, allowing the visitors to cut the JBU lead in half before the intermission.
The Golden Eagles then out-shot Mid-America Christian by a 13-3 margin in the second half, with Walter's strike adding insurance in the 61st minute. The shot margin finished 26-8, in favor of John Brown.
Pavatt's header at the back post in the fifth minute came off a lovely service from freshman Julia Lambert at the left flag. Pavatt's fifth of the season rolled off her head and up and over the Evangel defenders and keeper to break a 94:24 scoreless drought against MACU.
The helper was Lambert's 12th of the season, with is tied for 11th most in the nation this year.
Walter then doubled the lead shortly after. Off sophomore Aubrey Winter's corner service from the right flag, the MACU defense failed the clear the ball, allowing senior Aniyah Gibbs to play a high, arching ball back into the box from 30 yards from goal. Evangels keeper Rachel Torres failed to catch the recycled play, as Walter snuck between a pair of defender to poke in the loose ball from six yards out.
To complete the brace in the second half, Walter collected a blocked shot from junior Elise Bosma, cut across the middle and ripped a shot to the far right post past backup Makayla Farquharson, returning the hosts to its original two-goal advantage.
Senior Emily Dobbins moved to 9-0-1 on the season, stopping two of three MACU chances on frame. Torres took the loss for the visitors, allowing two goals on four chances before giving way to Farquaharson.
John Brown will now take on the Drovers (14-5-0) in the Sooner Athletic championship match on Friday (Nov. 10) live on the SAC Sports Network. With kick-off scheduled for 6 p.m., Science & Arts will be making its ninth-straight appearance in the finals. JBU is 4-2-1 all-time versus the Drovers in the league's title game.
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