BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- Sophomore Ahmed Abess headed in his first collegiate goal to open the scoring early and sophomore Marco Brizuela added a first-half brace, but No. 13 Oklahoma Wesleyan rallied from three deficits and used a pair of goals in the second half to defeat the John Brown University men's soccer team on Monday (Sept. 4) evening at the OKWU Soccer Complex.
Stefan Cvetanovic scored his second of the game in the 53rd minute for Oklahoma Wesleyan, and with just three seconds left in the match, Vitor Meirinho's rip from 25 yards out to the top left corner of goal sent the Eagles (1-1-1) into a frenzy that saw the fans pour into the pitch in celebration.
The 45th iteration of the series was physical – including 49 fouls and eight cautions. JBU is now winless in last four outings against Oklahoma Wesleyan, dating back to 2018.
It took the Golden Eagles (3-1-0) less than three minutes to open the scoring. A free kick in the offensive third allowed senior Oscar Carballo to serve a perfect volley into the box that found the head of Abess in the sea of humanity. Abess' flick bounced over goalkeeper Ilija Catic for a 1-0 Golden Eagle advantage.
𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦
Marco scores his first of two goals on the evening off a no-looker from Erick at the top of the box. What a combination play!
Posted by John Brown University Athletics on Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Off the ensuing kickoff, Uros Rosic's cross from the right flank found the head of Cvetanovic to level the contest just 20 seconds later.
The visiting Golden Eagles responded in the 12th minute with a cheeky goal that featured a passing play that eventually finished with senior Erick Diaz's heel-flick to an overlapping Brizuela. After curling to goal, Brizuela let a shot go back to the right side of goal to return the advantage to the visitors.
Less than five minutes later, Rosic scored a header of his own to equalize the score at two apiece.
Brizuela wasn't done scoring after his second goal of the season, however, and in the 26th minute, the control went back to the Golden Eagles when Carballo passed his second assist of the evening from deep on the left side back into the box. The low pass found the feet of Brizuela, who one-touched a strike back to the right side of goal for a 3-1 John Brown lead.
The first half ended with JBU on top, despite Oklahoma Wesleyan leading 9-6 in shooting and a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Junior Kyle Hix (3-1-0) took his first loss of the season, but made a season-high six saves, including a pair in the second half that ignited the John Brown hope for a positive result. After allowing three goals in the first half without making a save, Catic bounced back for three saves in the second half to earn the win for the hosts.
The gauntlet continues for John Brown, which will march on to Fayette, Mo. next to face No. 21 Central Methodist (Mo.) on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm. The Golden Eagles are in the middle of a five-match roadtrip that spans 26 days.
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