OLATHE, Kan. -- The No. 7 Golden Eagles posted 14 shots and owned a 10-attempt advantage, but a second half goal from the upstart Pioneers was all that was needed as the John Brown University women's soccer team fell in 1-0 fashion at MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 20) at Pioneer Field.
Freshman Sunnie Woodard made her collegiate debut, stopping two of three shots, but Thayline Teixeira was able to shrug off a defender to continue a broken play in the box, and found the time to turn and shoot between a pair of Golden Eagle backs in the 63rd minute to provide the Pioneers (1-0-0) the difference needed in the upset.
Sophomore Julia Lambert had a dream opportunity to level the match with 1:22 remaining when a slotted ball found her all alone at the back post, the shot found the center of the goal right at MNU keeper Fiona Popetschnig to preserve the clean sheet.
Popetschnig saved all seven John Brown (0-1-0) attempts on target throughout the match, including a rocket from senior Lauren Walter just three minutes after the hosts took the lead.
Alongside Woodard, Karis Stull, Clare Barger, Bella Mendieta, Joanna Long and Caitlin Hilson all made their Golden Eagle debuts.
With the loss, the Blue and Gold fall to 6-2-0 all-time against MidAmerica Nazarene. It's JBU's second straight loss in Olathe, dating back to 2014.
John Brown will look to bounce back and as they prepare for its home opener on Saturday afternoon (Aug. 24) at 3 p.m., when the Golden Eagles welcome No. 15 Bethel (Tenn.) to Alumni Field to kick off a four-match homestand.
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