SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- In a dramatic finish fitting for postseason soccer, the John Brown University men's soccer team rallied from a goal down to defeat Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 2-1 in extra time on Friday night (Nov. 7) at Alumni Field, advancing to its first conference final since 2019.
Junior Gabriel Cabrera scored his team-leading third game-winning goal of the season with just over two minutes left in the first extra time, while sophomore Alejandro Gallardo's conversion at the penalty spot leveled the match late for the Blue and Gold - breathing life into what appeared to be dropping in the Sooner Athletic tournament semifinals for the fifth time in six seasons.
With the Evangels down to ten men, John Brown (12-3-4) held possession through extra time. In the 98th minute, Tebbs' goal kick quickly initiated an attack upfield. The goal kick glanced off junior Atim Roper and continued through the flat-footed Evangel back line. With MACU keeper Dante Caffaro caught well off his line, Cabrera collected the deflection in stride and chipped home the golden goal from just outside the box, sending the Golden Eagles back to the SAC championship match for the first time in six years.
The breakthrough for the host side came in the 87th minute when Atim Roper was fouled in the box while making a run toward goal on a cross. Following the foul, an Evangel was ejected for dissent, setting up a dramatic penalty kick for the Golden Eagles. Gallardo stepped to the spot and buried his eighth goal of the season, returning the match level at one apiece and igniting the home crowd.
After a scoreless first half, MACU (8-8-4) struck first, briefly stunning the Alumni Field faithful. In the 50th minute, Papa Toure's header slipped through the JBU defense and senior Adam Tebbs off a restart service from Federico Palacios, giving Mid-America Christian a 1-0 lead.
JBU regrouped and began to mount steady pressure. Junior Amaury Jarry nearly leveled in the 67th minute with a glancing header that missed just wide, and Tebbs came up with key stops on MACU's Jimmy Cabrera and Haruya Higuchi to keep the deficit at one.
The sides engaged in a defensive battle through the first 45 minutes of play. Senior Braeden Templin twice tested Caffaro with headers off early corner kicks, and Gallardo forced another save in the 27th minute. JBU controlled possession and earned three first-half corners, while the Evangels went without a single shot on target before the intermission.
JBU finished with an 8-7 edge in total shots and a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal while earning all four of the match's corner kicks. Tebbs (7-3-4) recorded two saves for the Golden Eagles, while Caffaro stopped three for the visitors.
John Brown will travel to face top-seeded Oklahoma City in the Sooner Athletic title match on Monday night (Nov. 10) at Brian Harvey Field for a 7 p.m. kickoff live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network. The winner will earn an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships.
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