SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Sophomore Tianna Jones finished with a goal and an assist, and five different Golden Eagles scored as the No. 10 John Brown University women's soccer team scored three second-half goals en route to a 5-1 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State Saturday afternoon (Oct. 18) at Alumni Field.
The Golden Eagles (8-2-3, 5-0-1 Sooner Athletic) won its eighth-straight game against the Aggies and continued its undefeated streak to six in conference action.
OPSU (5-5-1, 2-3-1) tied the match late in the first half after senior Aubrey Winter gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute when her free kick caromed off a Panhandle defender and into the goal for her seventh of the season.
After the first defensive error for the visitors, the Blue and Gold jumped on a second with just 22 seconds left in the first period. A long ball through the midfield was inadvertently headed by an OPSU defender up and behind them, springing sophomore Katherine Keys into a one-on-one with Aggie keeper Alaralynn Gunderson. Keys ripped her seventh of the season and first game-winner, handing JBU the key advantage before halftime.
The strike seemed keep John Brown on the front foot heading into the second half, and just over seven minutes into the frame, Jones fed freshman Joy Long for her fourth of the campaign. Long took the pass and cut into the middle before unleashing a 22-yard strike to the bottom right corner of goal for a 3-1 Blue and Gold advantage.
In the 61st, just eight minutes later, Jones scored one of her own, ripping a header off the crossbar and in off a feed from junior Julia Lambert at the corner flag. It was Jones' third of the year.
The scoring ended in brilliant fashion with a combination play through the middle. Senior Olivia Fish laid back a pass to senior Lillian Johnson, who beat her defender to the ball by knocking a pass forward through the OPSU back line, which tried to keep the Golden Eagles onsides. The effort failed, and sprung junior Addie Craig into another one-on-one, this time with Panhandle State keeper Emma Shockley, who stook no chance. Craig's calm shot back to the near post potted her sixth of the season – extending her career-best season scoring mark.
Sophomore Marely Fonseca made three saves on four chances, improving to 8-1-2 on the year, and dropping her goals-against average to 0.85. Gunderson and Shockley combined for five saves as Gunderson (5-3-1) took the loss for the visiting side.
The Golden Eagles finished out-shooting its opponents 25-7, and held a strong 10-2 advantage in opportunities from the corner flag.
The homestand continues Tuesday evening (Oct. 21) at 5 p.m. when the Blue and Gold welcome Southwestern Christian (Okla.) to Alumni Field, live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network.
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