OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- The Golden Eagles' quest for a third Sooner Athletic tournament title came up just short Monday evening (Nov. 10), as the John Brown University men's soccer team fell 2-1 in extra time to Oklahoma City in the league's championship match at Brian Harvey Field.
Henrique Duarte's goal in the 99th minute gave top-seeded Oklahoma City (14-3-4) the automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, while second-seeded John Brown (12-4-4) must wait until Friday evening to learn its national tournament fate.
Junior Atim Roper gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute with his team-leading ninth goal of the season. Off a beautiful restart service in the midfield from junior Gabriel Cabrera, senior Steven Cisneros one-touched the ball into the mixer from the back post, setting up Roper's rip from in close that put the Blue and Gold on the front foot with just over 30 minutes left in the match.
The advantage held for a total of three minutes until Francisco Miquel converted a penalty kick in the 61st minute to level the match at 1-1. The penalty was prompted by an inadvertent Golden Eagle hand ball in the box.
As full time came to a close, the visitors had one final chance to capture victory before the clock expired. From nearly the exact same spot, Cabrera sent a free kick service to the back post that cleared the Stars' back line, but two JBU attackers were unable to get a piece of the service to send John Brown back to Siloam Springs as winners.
Both sides were rather clinical in the first extra time session, with the Blue and Gold holding more possession than it did in the second half after Roper's goal. With just 1:11 remaining in the first extra time, a long throw in from the right flank was headed into the box and Henrique Duarte scored his first goal of the season on a one-touch strike from the top of the box to send OCU to its second consecutive tournament title.
John Brown was outshot 13-9 in the match and 3-0 in extra time.
Both goalkeepers made four saves, with senior Adam Tebbs (7-4-4) making a pair of saves in each of the first two halves. Alexis Bertrand made three saves on four opportunities for the hosts.
The loss drops JBU to 2-1-1 all-time in SAC championship matches and marks the third consecutive season Oklahoma City has eliminated the Golden Eagles from the league tournament.
John Brown will await the NAIA national office's at-large berth announcement Friday (Nov. 14) at 5 p.m. to determine if its 2025 campaign continues.
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