Golden Eagles Score Early, Deflect Comeback Effort in 3-1 Second Round Win over Central Methodist

SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- The Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the 24th minute and never trailed as the No. 19 John Brown University women's soccer team used a late first-half goal and added insurance midway through the second half to produce a 3-1 win over No. 12 Central Methodist (Mo.) in the Second Round of the NAIA National Championships Saturday afternoon (Nov. 23) at Alumni Field.

The program's first win over CMU vaults John Brown (15-5-1) to the final site to take on the winner of top-seeded Cumberlands (Ky.) and Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) on Monday (Dec. 2) at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Fla. This is the third time under Dr. Kathleen Paulsen that the Golden Eagles have advanced to the final site.

After careful and considerate possession by both teams through the first 20 minutes, the Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the 24th minute when sophomore Brooklyn Hendricks boot up the pitch was flicked on with a header from sophomore Julia Lambert through the CMU back line. Keys battled shoulder-to-shoulder with her defender, but won the battle late and poked a shot through the legs of Madison Priebe for a 1-0 advantage for the hosts.

The Blue and Gold doubled its lead just before halftime in the 42nd minute when sophomore Addie Craig chipped in her first career game-winner by flicking a low cross from senior Lauren Walter up and over Priebe at the near post.

Central Methodist (16-5-1) came out of halftime with renewed energy and halved the deficit just 20 seconds in as Mariana Barreto capitalized on a defensive lapse by JBU, finishing a cheeky pass from Kirstine Lykke to make it 2-1.

The host side battled through the momentum swing, however, and delivered the insurance goal in the 66th minute. Off a throw-in on the left flank, Walter crossed her second assist of the afternoon to the back post that found junior Olivia Fish wide open, who ripped her second goal of the season uncontested to restore the two-goal JBU lead.

With the two-goal advantage restored, freshman goalkeeper Marely Fonseca made her presence known with a pair of key moments late in the match. With just over five minutes left in the match, she deflected Paula Castro's corner service over the crossbar, avoiding a would-be Olimpico. Then in the 87th minute, Fonseca absorbed a header from Barreto just eight yards away to deny the visiting Eagles a chance to crawl closer to level.

Throughout the match, John Brown showcased its defensive discipline and tactical awareness, limiting Central Methodist to six total shots, with only two on target. Marely Fonseca (11-2-0) made one save to secure the victory while the offense registered 10 shots, seven of which were on goal, forcing Priebe into four saves on seven chances in the losing effort.

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