SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- The John Brown University men's soccer team secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Central Baptist (Ark.) on Tuesday night at Alumni Field, pushing its season-opening unbeaten streak to four.
JBU set the tone early in the match, maintaining significant possession and applying continuous pressure on the CBC defense, quickly outshooting the visitors 6-0 through the first third of the match.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute when sophomore forward Alejandro Ramirez netted his second goal of the season. The goal was a result of a well-orchestrated restart, beginning with a deft pass from senior Kendall Acuna up the right flank to sophomore Kendal Madrigal. Madrigal skillfully navigated past his defender before sending a low, hard cross to Ramirez for a sliding tip-in strike unmarked in front of CBC goalkeeper Jasper Gadellaa to give JBU the lead.
Despite multiple attempts to extend their lead, the Golden Eagles were met by a formidable performance from Gadellaa, who recorded four saves in the first half. JBU's tactical approach saw them dominate the first 45 minutes, taking eight shots without yielding one to the Mustangs (1-2-0), but the scoreline remained 1-0 at halftime.
The second half saw a shift in momentum as Central Baptist adjusted its tactics, increasing its attacking efforts. CBC managed to create more scoring opportunities, recording four shots in the second half, two of which were on target. However, JBU's defensive unit, anchored by sophomore Adam Tebbs, held firm. Tebbs, who has been in stellar form throughout the season, made crucial saves in the 55th and 71st minutes to preserve his first clean sheet of 2024.
JBU's defense was also supported by strategic substitutions made by head coach Samuel Estrada, who ensured that fresh legs were available to counter CBC's late surge. Despite a more physical and aggressive approach by CBC, which resulted in three yellow cards, the Golden Eagles remained composed, effectively managing the game's tempo.
The hosts dominated the shooting effort on the evening with 13 attempts, five of which were on target, compared to CBC's four shots, with only two testing Tebbs. JBU also had the upper hand in corner kicks, with five compared to three from the visitors.
JBU carries its unbeaten streak to the Sunflower State as it prepares to face Friends (Kan.) on Saturday morning (Sept. 7) at Adair-Austin Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. The Golden Eagles have won their last two trips to Wichita, dating back to 2011, and are 2-1-0 all-time at the Falcons' home grounds.
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