KANSAS CITY -- For the sixth time in seven seasons, the No. 19 John Brown University women's soccer team will be playing an NAIA National Championships match at Alumni Field after the Golden Eagles were selected as one of 16 First and Second Round hosts and picked as the sixteenth overall seed in the 2024 field, the NAIA National Office announced Saturday afternoon (Nov. 16) afternoon.
After defeating Science & Arts (Okla.) in the Sooner Athletic championship match by a 6-2 margin, the Golden Eagles (14-5-1) guaranteed its appearance in the program's 11th National Championships tournament by claiming the league's only autobid. Science & Arts, and for the first time in program history, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) join the Golden Eagles in the field of 40 teams vying for the 41st Annual women's soccer championship.
Standing in JBU's way from advancing to the Round of 16 in Pensacola, Fla. is Central Methodist (Mo.), a program making its eighth-ever appearance in the tournament field via an at-large berth. The Eagles (16-3-1) had won 10 of its last 11 contests before being ousted from the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament by the fifth seed, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) in the championship match.
Spearheaded by the two-headed monster of Mariana Barreto and Kirstine Lykke, the two Eagles each boast a team-leading 16 goals, combining for 11 of the 20 game-winning goals on the season. Barreto potted her 16 goals in seven fewer appearances than Lykke, averaging an impressive 1.23 goals per game. Paula Castra has provided nine assists on the season to pace CMU.
In goal, Madison Priebe, a 5-foot-8 transfer junior from the University of Winnipeg, earned a 15-1-1 record in the 2024 campaign, posting nine clean sheets (four shared) and a 0.71 goals-against average. The Canadian stopped 42 of the 55 shots on frame to lead all HAAC goalkeepers. As a whole, CMU allows 0.75 goals against per outing while netting 3.20 goals per game.
HOW THIS ALL WORKS
There are 16 First and Second Rounds host sites around the nation that feature one or two matches at each site with First Rounds playing Thursday and Second Rounds kicking off on Saturday.
The top eight seeds will host two matches, featuring seeds 1-8 jumping into the fray on Saturday while seeds 25-40 battle on Thursday. Seeds 9-24 will have just one Second Round match on Saturday.
The 16 Second Round winners will advance to the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Fla. where the winners will battle in a single-elimination 16-team bracket. |
While still in search for its first win in program history at the final site, John Brown advanced to Foley, Ala. last season, with its campaign ending in the Round of 16 for the second time in program history. To reach Foley, the Golden Eagles defeated Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) by a 1-0 final on a last-minute goal from Summer Holmes to book its ticket to Alabama.
In Foley, JBU went toe-to-toe with No. 9 Aquinas (Mich.), but the Saints' 2-0 lead through 52 minutes was too much, despite Julia Lambert's goal in the 57th minute to pull the Golden Eagles within one.
Head coach Dr. Kathleen Paulsen has now guided the program to nine NAIA National Championships appearances in 12 seasons, and the Golden Eagles are 5-8-2 in 10 previous appearances (2005-10-13-16-18-19-20-21-22-23).
John Brown finished its seventh undefeated run through the Sooner Athletic table this season, out-scoring teams by a 39-3 combined margin. JBU then ran through the conference tournament, ousting Oklahoma Panhandle State, Oklahoma City and Science & Arts, claiming the squad's seventh tournament title and fifth in a row.
The two sides aren't completely unfamiliar with one another, having met twice since the spring of 2021.
In the Second Round of the 2020 NAIA National Championships, JBU concluded its historic season with a 1-1 draw against No. 8 Central Methodist (Mo.), falling 4-2 in penalty kicks. Despite holding a 15-9 shooting advantage and controlling the second half and overtime, JBU couldn't capitalize on key opportunities, including near misses in the final moments. The Golden Eagles finished the season undefeated at 14-0-1, setting program records for win percentage (.967) and fewest losses, while advancing further in the national tournament than ever before.
Last season in Fayette, Mo., the Golden Eagles fell 4-3 to No. 8 Central Methodist (Mo.) after a penalty kick in the 75th minute proved decisive in a hard-fought match featuring five second-half goals. Senior Rachel Stone scored twice in a five-minute span to erase a 2-0 halftime deficit, while sophomore Aubrey Winter added a stunning free-kick equalizer before CMU's penalty kick game-winner.
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