WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. -- Behind a pair of goals from junior Atim Roper and a pair of penalty kick saves by sophomore Juan Almanza, the John Brown University men's soccer team scored four goals in the first 11 minutes of the match and rode the chaotic start to a 4-1 win at Williams Baptist (Ark.) on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 13) at the WBU Soccer Field.
Almanza made six saves on seven chances – including a penalty kick in each half – and was only beaten by a penalty kick rebound on the first opportunity. The transfer set a career high in saves en route to improving to 2-0-0 on the season.
In what would eventually turn out to be a very physical match that included 40 fouls and a dozen cautions, the Blue and Gold (4-1-1) netted four goals before the host Eagles (2-3-1) were able to record its second shot attempt of the match.
Roper opened the scoring in the fifth minute by burying a chance all alone in front of the WBU goal off an incredible outside foot flick ahead from sophomore Alejandro Gallardo for a 1-0 lead.
The visiting side doubled its advantage just 2:19 later when senior Steve Cisneros headed a corner from sophomore Marcos Miranda from the right of goal over keeper Marco Cisneros and an Eagle defender into the left side of goal.
Turning momentum into more goals, JBU didn't let up as another header bested Cisneros, this time from the middle of the box where Roper flicked home his second of the match off a beautiful cross from junior Amaury Jarry 49 seconds later.
Again less than three minutes later, Jarry ripped a match's prettiest goal of the afternoon as the Golden Eagles attacked up the left flank. A cheeky touch-drop from freshman Ransford Okyere allowed Roper to overlap and play a ball across the top of the 18 that Jarry one-touch ripped to the top right corner of goal to conclude the visiting scoring.
Ricardo Da Silva ended the John Brown clean sheet effort in the 37th minute when he cleaned up his own penalty miss, but the Blue and Gold wouldn't concede again for the remaining 53 minutes of the match – successfully avenging Williams Baptist earning a draw at Alumni Field last season.
The win moves JBU to 2-0-1 all-time against the Eagles, including this afternoon's win in its first ever trip to Walnut Ridge.
The Golden Eagles return to action for its final week of non-conference sides, beginning with a contest with LSU Shreveport (La.) at Alumni Field on Tuesday evening. Live on the SAC Sports Network and the Urban Edge Network, the clash will kick off at 7 p.m.
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