BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- In what has become a nearly annual rivalry, the John Brown University men's soccer squad earned a 3-3 draw at No. 5 Oklahoma Wesleyan on Monday (Aug. 25) evening at the OKWU Soccer Complex.
Sophomore Alejandro Gallardo and freshman Constantin Bauer each recorded a goal and an assists (3 points), helping the Golden Eagles (0-1-1) to two second-half goals to pull out the draw against a second-consecutive NAIA top-10 ranked side.
After OKWU struck first early with a goal in the fourth minute of play, John Brown settled down and took advantage of an individual effort from Gallardo, the reigning SAC Freshman of the Year, who leveled the match at one in the 20th minute.
While the host Eagles (0-0-1) took a 2-1 lead into halftime, the Blue and Gold responded with a pair of goals over a 10-minute span to take a 3-2 lead.
In the 58th minute, junior Atim Roper redirected a Bauer corner kick to shock the home supporters and tie the match again at two apiece.
Less than 10 minutes later, on a brilliant counter-attack, Gallardo played the ball up to sophomore Marcos Miranda up the left flank before Miranda sent a perfect pass into the box, finished by Bauer for his first collegiate goal and a 3-2 advantage for the visitors.
Oklahoma Wesleyan would eventually go on to level the match again in the 78th minute, but neither side was able to find the game-winner as the Golden Eagles move to 2-1-2 in its last five matchups in Bartlesville.
Senior Adam Tebbs made a pair of saves to move to 0-1-1 on the season. OKWU keeper Marko Rodic made one save while allowing three in the Wesleyan season debut.
The Blue and Gold will now take a break from top-10 action when the Golden Eagles welcome Hesston (Kan.) to Alumni Field for First Friday Futbol action, slated for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Aug. 29. It will be the first matchup of the sides in program history as the visiting Larks recently transitioned into a four-year NAIA program.
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