SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Riding a well-timed penalty conversion from junior Aubrey Winter, the No. 19 John Brown University women's soccer team secured a 1-0 victory against Texas Wesleyan in the Sooner Athletic Conference opener for both sides on Saturday (Sept. 28) at Alumni Field.
A second-half penalty kick from junior Aubrey Winter proved to be the difference as the Golden Eagles improved to 4-4-1 overall and 1-0-0 in league play.
Despite dominating possession throughout the match, John Brown struggled to break down a resilient Texas Wesleyan defense anchored by goalkeeper Maggie Campbell, who recorded eight saves.
JBU tallied 21 total shots, including 9 on target, while limiting the visiting Rams (2-6-1, 0-1-0) to just two shots, only one of which required a save from freshman keeper Marely Fonseca, who made her second career collegiate start in between the sticks.
The Golden Eagles applied consistent pressure in the opening 45 minutes, recording 11 shots and earning seven corner kicks, but were unable to find the back of the net. Sophomore Julia Lambert and senior Lauren Walter led the attack with multiple attempts, though Campbell kept Texas Wesleyan in the game with crucial stops.
The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute when Winter converted a penalty kick after a Texas Wesleyan hand ball in the box. It marked Winter's fourth goal of the season, third from the penalty spot, sending her effort past Campbell to give JBU the lead.
Texas Wesleyan struggled to generate offensive momentum, with their only shot on goal coming early in the first half from forward Alexa Bezpalko. Fonseca calmly handled the attempt to preserve her first-career clean sheet for the Golden Eagles.
JBU continued to press in the second half, but Campbell's efforts and the Texas Wesleyan deep block kept the margin to a single goal.
While the Rams were held without a shot attempt in the final 45 minutes, Walter finished the match with six, while Lambert added four. Of the 21 shots, only nine finished on frame, while the TXWES defenders blocked four.
John Brown will return to action next week as they travel to Bethany, Okla. to take on Southwestern Christian on Oct. 1 at Cagle Family Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. as the match will air live on the SAC Sports Network.
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