SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Sophomore Tianna Jones delivered a four-point night, scoring once and assisting twice, as the No. 10 John Brown University women's soccer team captured its sixth consecutive Sooner Athletic tournament championship, 3-1, defeating No. 17 Science & Arts (Okla.) on Wednesday night (Nov. 12) at Alumni Field.
The victory gives the Golden Eagles (14-2-4) its eighth tournament crown in program history and secures the league's lone automatic bid to the 2025 NAIA National Championships. The Blue and Gold also extended its dominance in postseason play, moving to 18 straight SAC tournament matches without a loss, a streak that dates back to the 2020 season.
JBU repeatedly generated danger off well-executed throw-ins, with Jones often finding pockets of space created by those sequences and turning them into attacking service throughout the night. The sophomore turned in her second four-point outing of the season, and the Golden Eagles improved to 7-1-0 in its last eight matches against the Drovers in Siloam Springs.
The title match doubled as a rematch of the teams' regular-season draw, a 1-1 result in Chickasha where neither side could find separation.
This time, the hosts struck early and controlled much of the tempo. In the ninth minute, Aubrey Winter broke the deadlock, rising at the back post to head in a service from Jones after a strong throw-in from sophomore Bella Mendieta on the right flank. The finish marked Winter's ninth goal of the season and immediately put the visiting Drovers under pressure.
With only four shots attempted in the first 45 minutes of action – three by John Brown – the match was largely negotiated in the midfield as both sides attempted methodical attacks upfield.
After the break, JBU doubled its advantage just 25 seconds into the second half. Jones again unlocked the back line, crossing a ball dangerously into the mixer that found junior Julia Lambert running toward goal. Lambert's 13th of the year, a one-touch strike driven with pace, pushed JBU closer to a sixth-straight title. Winter began the play with another key throw-in up the left side, creating the space Jones needed to beat her defender and deliver the service.
Science & Arts (13-4-5) briefly cut the margin in the 62nd minute on a composed strike from Paula Casajus, whose finish glanced off a JBU defender to trim the deficit to 2-1. But the Drovers generated only five shots overall as the JBU back line, anchored by freshman Bella Bingham and Mendieta, limited space in the final third.
Jones provided the final blow in the 84th minute, stripping possession from a Drover defender before tucking a curling shot off the left post for her seventh goal of the season, restoring the two-goal margin and effectively sealing the championship.
JBU outshot USAO 11-5 and held a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks. Sophomore Marely Fonseca (13-1-3) made two saves in the win, while Ashlyn Lonberg stopped four shots for the visitors.
With the conference title secured, the Golden Eagles will learn its NAIA National Championships Opening Round destination and opponent on Friday evening (Nov. 14) at 6 p.m., preparing for the program's 12th appearance on the national stage all-time.
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