SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- In the 16th edition of the rivalry, neither side was able to find the second-half winner as the No. 3 John Brown University women's soccer team drew 1-1 with No. 15 Oklahoma Wesleyan on Saturday evening (Sept. 13) at Alumni Field.
In a matchup the concluded in a draw in every sense of the word, both squads attempted nine shots in the 1-1 stalemate. Despite the pitch being tilted towards the OKWU (3-1-1) end for the majority of the match, and a 9-2 corner kick advantage for the Blue and Gold, the visiting Eagles escaped with the first draw in the series history, dating back to 2002.
The Golden Eagles appeared poised to take a 1-0 lead midway through the first half when Wesleyan keep Alessandra Martinez punched a ball destined for the middle of the box, but the ensuing force caromed off a defenders head and spun backwards – destined to cross the goal line. With Martinez and senior Aubrey Winter sprinting for the ball as it trickled towards goal, Winter was able to pot the ball into the goal but the contact with Martinez, scrambling to save an own goal, was whistled for a foul, despite occurring after the ball had crossed the goal line.
OKWU made good on the shift in momentum and took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute off a pretty passing play across the top of the Golden Eagle 18, the left Tessa Edwards alone behind the JBU back line. Linn Joelsson played a perfect pass to the back post where Edwards launched the 15-yard strike to the top shelf.
Sophomore Katherine Keys and freshman Andi Riley came off the bench after the goal and provided an immediate and needed energy boost for the hosts. Sixteen minutes after OKWU took the lead, Keys leveled the match after Riley dispossessed the Wesleyan attack and immediately sprinted upfield on the counter. The freshman laid a perfect pass forward up to Keys on the right wing and the Golden Eagles' leading scorer ripped her fifth goal of the season to the far left side of goal to even the match at one.
Neither side was able to find the net in the final 45 minutes of action, as the hosts racked up seven of its 11 corners in the final half of play. Both keepers made a pair of saves in the second frame.
Sophomore Marely Fonseca continues her unbeaten record on the year, now 3-0-1 in 2025, making four saves. Martinez made five saves in the draw for Wesleyan.
JBU will now take a week to rest before it travels to Columbia (Mo.) next Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20) in a high noon battle with the Cougars at R. Marvin Owens Field. The Blue and Gold will then kick off Sooner Athletic play the following weekend.
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