PLAINVIEW, Texas -- Senior Erick Diaz's two goals and two assists (6 points) powered the John Brown University men's soccer team to an historic 7-0 victory over Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Thursday night (Oct. 24) at J.V. Hilliard Field.
With the win, the Golden Eagles (9-1-4, 6-1-0 Sooner Athletic) maintain the conference tournament's top overall seed within its sights. With two quality results in the final two matches of the league schedule, John Brown can clinch an outright title–its first since 2019.
Freshman Alejandro Gallardo contributed a goal and an assist, while sophomore Kendal Madrigal added two assists, for the second consecutive match, to fuel a JBU offense that posted seven goals in a match for the second time this season. Sophomore Adam Tebbs (5-0-1) recorded seven saves–a season-high–to secure his third clean sheet of the season, and junior Steven Cisneros helped maintain the shutout by recording a blocked shot on the goal line in the 75th minute.
The scoring opened in the ninth minute when Alonso Arrieta netted the game's first goal, quickly putting JBU on the board and potting his first-game winner of the season. Just two minutes later, Diaz converted a penalty kick to put JBU up 2-0, doubling the visitors' advantage. Gallardo extended the lead to 3-0 in the 29th minute with an assist from Diaz, giving JBU a comfortable advantage going into halftime.
After the break, junior Ahmed Abess scored his first goal of the season in the 51st minute, assisted by Madrigal, marking JBU's fourth goal. Five minutes later, freshman Marcos Miranda scored his sixth goal of the season, with Diaz providing his second assist of the match. Diaz struck again in the 58th minute, his sixth goal this season, with Gallardo and Madrigal assisting to increase the score to 6-0.
Finally, in the 81st minute, senior Jose Gabriel Rodriguez capped off the scoring with his first goal of the season and fourth of his career, assisted by Cisneros.
JBU held a narrow statistical edge throughout the match, outshooting Wayland Baptist 17-15 and recording 13 shots on goal compared to Wayland Baptist's eight. The Golden Eagles also earned four corner kicks to the Pioneers' (8-5-2, 3-2-2) three.
Now the John Brown will close out the final road fixture of the 2024 Sooner Athletic schedule at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 26). The sides are scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. at the Anchor D Stadium as the contest will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network.
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