SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Despite surrendering a pair of goals in the first 11 minutes of play, the John Brown University men's soccer team came roaring back, posting six consecutive goals to take a 6-2 win Tuesday night (Sept. 30) over Central Christian (Kan.) at Alumni Field.
Sophomore Alejandro Gallardo and freshman Ransford Okyere each netted first-half braces, and the Golden Eagles (7-2-1, 2-0-0 Sooner Athletic) won its third consecutive match and fifth-straight against the Tigers (1-6-2, 1-1-0).
The visitors struck quickly, catching the Blue and Gold off guard with a long throw in that was tapped in at the near post. Eight minutes later, Central Christian converted a penalty kick to build a shocking 2-0 advantage. Genis Alcaide scored both for the Tigers.
Down by a proper margin with 80 minutes still remaining in the match, the hosts went to work, and systematically broke down the Tigers and immediately took control of the match.
A failed clear by a Tiger defender allowed Gallardo to step into a shot to shave the deficit in half in the 21st minute, and almost exactly 10 minutes later, the reigning SAC Freshman of the Year completed the first-half brace. Finishing a beautiful combination play that began with junior Kendal Madrigal and continued on by freshman Constantin Bauer, Gallardo poked his sixth of the season inside the near post to level the match at two apiece.
Then, Okyere took over. First, he cleaned up a shot that rang off the right post from Madrigal by sending home the rebound in the 40th minute. Then with 49 seconds left in the half, the freshman was on the receiving end of a cheeky back heel from junior Atim Roper. Okyere streaked through the back line and calmly deposited his third of the season to the near left post, placing the match firmly back with the Blue and Gold.
Okyere then returned the favor, setting up Roper's sixth of the season in the 51st minute, and junior Braden Templin's header off a Gabriel Carbrera corner service completed the scoring in the 89th minute of action.
After falling behind 2-0, John Brown out-shot the visitors 21-5 over the final 80 minutes of play.
Sophomore Juan Almanza needed just one save to improve to 4-0-0 on the season. Nawjot Bhandal made five saves on eight chances for the Tigers, before giving way to Timothy Foster – who conceded one goal on JBU's only shot on frame in the final 23 minutes of action.
The Blue and Gold welcome Wayland Baptist (Texas) to Alumni Field to complete the quick two-match homestand on the week on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 4). The conference match will be carried live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network at 4:30 p.m.
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