PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A match that had been balanced for nearly 90 minutes turned in the final moments, as the fifth-seeded and 10th-ranked John Brown University women's soccer team conceded in the 89th minute of a 1-0 defeat to 13th-seeded and ninth-ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) in the NAIA National Championships quarterfinal round.
The loss ends John Brown's (15-3-4) season at the same stage for a second consecutive year, matching the deepest run in program history. The Blue and Gold's 14-match unbeaten streak was snapped in the result.
With extra time looming, Cumberlands (16-4-3) found the winner at 88:39. A turnover in midfield allowed the Patriots to play a ball forward over the back line that dropped in the space between the defense and sophomore Marely Fonseca. As the pass sailed through, the JBU defense was unable to make a clean play in the air, and Patriot attacker Nicole Araujo ran through to finish a one-versus-one chance into the back of the net off the service from Carola Fontan.
The late strike decided a quarterfinal that was otherwise even on the stat sheet. Cumberlands finished with a 13-12 edge in shots and a 6-5 margin in shots on goal, while both sides earned five corner kicks. Fonseca (15-2-3) posted five saves for the Golden Eagles, including three after halftime, and Cumberlands' Morgan White also recorded five stops to preserve the clean sheet.
It was also the first time the Golden Eagles had been held scoreless in 14 matches.
John Brown generated chances in both halves, as junior Julia Lambert led the Golden Eagles with four shots and one effort on target, while senior Kaelyn Mole added two attempts and one shot on frame. Senior Aubrey Winter, who entered the afternoon with five goals in her previous two national tournament matches, placed one shot on goal, and sophomore Bella Mendieta and freshman Bella Bingham each tested the Patriot goalkeeper as JBU searched for the breakthrough.
Defensively, John Brown's back line and midfield kept Cumberlands largely in check for long stretches. The Patriots managed just four shots in the first half as the Blue and Gold limited clear looks and protected Fonseca's box. After the interval, Cumberlands increased its pressure and finished with nine second-half attempts, and finished its most promising direct ball forward to produce the deciding moment.
The result closes a season that again established John Brown among the nation's elite programs. The Golden Eagles captured its sixth consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference tournament title and third straight SAC regular season championship, adding to a sustained run of conference dominance. During the regular season, JBU rose early to No. 3 in the NAIA national rankings, the highest ranking in program history, and entered the national tournament as the No. 5 overall seed in the 40-team field – another program record.
At the Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park, John Brown advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating 13th-seeded Life (Ga.) in the Round of 16, then pushed another nationally ranked side to the closing minutes in Pensacola.
The back-to-back quarterfinal appearances in 2024 and 2025 represent the program's best national finishes to date.
Note: Due to inclement weather and an unplayable surface, Thursday's quarterfinal was suspended at halftime on Dec. 4 at Ashton Brosnaham Sports Park, with the sides level at 0-0. The match resumed the following morning at 10 a.m. on Dec. 5 at the Orange Beach Sports Complex in Orange Beach, Ala., and was completed on an artificial turf surface.
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