FT. WORTH, Texas -- Junior Julia Lambert ripped her team-leading ninth goal of the season, and a Rams own goal moments later set the table that finished with the No. 10 John Brown University women's soccer team starting its road trip with a dominating 4-0 win over Texas Wesleyan on Thursday evening at Martin Field.
The Golden Eagles (6-2-3, 3-0-1 Sooner Athletic) out-shot its hosts by a 21-1 margin, and the back line partnered with sophomore Marely Fonseca for the team's fifth clean sheet of the season. Fonseca stretched her personal shutout streak to 297 consecutive minutes and improved to 6-1-2 on the year.
The Blue and Gold onslaught began at kickoff, with the visitors racking up eight shot attempts and hitting two crossbars through the first 25 minutes. Two of the shots, launched by senior Aubrey Winter and junior Addie Craig, respectively, rattled the crossbar as JBU continued asking questions.
The breakthrough finally came in the 28th minute with a well-played ball from freshman Bella Bingham into the top of the box, where Winter laid a pass off to Lambert. Lambert took a touch to her left and ripped a shot past TXWES keeper Hannah Smith for a 1-0 Golden Eagle lead.
Seconds later, a Lambert cross into the box was accidentally redirected into the Ram goal by a defender, doubling the hosts' troubles and the visitors' advantage.
In second half action, Winter potted her third of the season in the 57th minute to complete a beautiful passing play that found its origins on the left wing. Lambert played a ball up to sophomore Katherine Keys, who launched a perfect back-post cross to the chest of Winter. She settled the ball and delivered a left-footed strike to the far post, ballooning the Blue and Gold lead to three.
Just 2:31 later, and incredible individual effort from freshman Joy Long resulted in a 4-0 lead. Long's third of her freshman campaign came after beating a defender in the middle of the pitch and letting go a 25-yard low shot to the left post, netting her first strike since starting out scoring in her first two career starts.
Fonseca was called upon for one first half save. Smith finished the evening allowing four goals on 14 JBU shots on frame, collecting the loss. It was the Blue and Gold's sixth consecutive victory over the Rams (2-7-2, 0-4-0).
John Brown concludes its road trip Saturday afternoon (Oct. 11) when it takes on Nelson (Texas) live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network. The match will be carried live at 1 p.m. from the Nelson Athletic Fields.
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