WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- Two Golden Eagles scored their first career goals just 42 seconds apart, and the No. 25 John Brown University men's soccer team split its two-match Texas road trip with a 2-1 over Nelson (Texas) on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 11) in Waxahachie.
Sophomore Juan Almanza stood tall between the sticks, making three saves on four chances to improve to 5-0-0 on the season – while picking up the primary assist on the game-winner as the Blue and Gold (9-3-1, 4-1-0 Sooner Athletic) moved to 14-0-0 all time against the Lions (5-5-3, 0-3-2).
Despite nursing numerous injuries, the visitors played to a scoreless first half, but was out-shot 4-1 through 45 minutes. Then, JBU struck twice quickly.
With momentum in the Nelson half, the visitors earned a corner kick in the 68th minute. Sophomore Marcos Miranda served a ball in from the left corner flag, allowing the towering freshman Garrison Thompson to play a perfect header through a crowd of bodies and to the back of goal for his first collegiate strike.
Just moments later in the 69th, Almanza drop-kicked a ball upfield and through the Nelson back line. Junior Jorge Cervantes beat his defender to the ball rolling towards the goal line, and slide-kicked a poor-angled shot towards the far right post and in past Lion keeper Amir Raime. Cervantes and Almanza both picked up their first-career collegiate points on the play.
While the hosts responded with a goal less than three minutes later, the Lions were unable to attempt another shot for the final 18 minutes of action as the Golden Eagles settled for a split in the weekend series in the Lone Star State.
The Blue and Gold attempted a season-low four shots, but three managed to find the target and two beat Raime. The Nelson netminder finished with one save on three chances.
JBU returns to the pitch on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 18) when the Golden Eagles welcome upstart Oklahoma Panhandle State for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff. The SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network will carry the action live from Alumni Field.
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