FULTON, Mo. -- After nearly 87 minutes of scoreless, but lopsided, soccer, senior Lauren Walter struck for her team-leading fifth goal of the season, willing the No. 14 John Brown University women's soccer team to a narrow 1-0 win over William Woods (Mo.) on Saturday afternoon at Firley Field.
Despite out-shooting the host Owls (3-5-1) by a 26-1 margin, the deadlock wouldn't break until junior Renny Buchanan's pass through the host's back line to Walter allowed JBU's leading scorer to run into a one-on-one situation with WWU keeper, Sierra Hahn.
Walter took one touch, pushing the ball past an oncoming Hahn, regained body control and tapped in the match's lone goal with just 3:22 left in the match.
Last season at Alumni Field, six different ladies scored and the Golden Eagles (5-1-0) dispatched William Woods by a 8-0 final.
In this edition, John Brown pressured all afternoon, including a chaotic scramble in the WWU box in the 55th minute but continually came up empty-handed. After the corner kick in the 55th, junior Kylie Kilfoy and senior Rachael Stone sent strikes on goal, but a packed Owls defense blocked point-blank chances.
John Brown sent 12 corners into play, while William Woods didn't mount a single opportunity.
Sophomore Regan Riley (5-1-0) wasn't called upon for a save. Hahn's heroics produced six saves in the loss.
With two matches left in the non-conference slate, John Brown will finish the Missouri road trip on Monday (Sept. 18) afternoon when it takes on No. 9 Columbia at R. Marvin Owens Field. The Golden Eagles are 2-0-0 all-time at Owens Field, winning 1-0 in 2018 and 2-0 in 2021. Last season, the Cougars invaded Alumni Field and handed JBU a 2-0 setback.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:35 p.m.
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding JBU Athletics by following the Golden Eagles on Twitter (@JBUathletics), Instagram (@JBUathletics) and Facebook (/JBUathletics). Catch every Golden Eagle home game and select away games on the SAC Sports Network, available online or for download on your favorite streaming device.
