CENTENNIAL, COLO. -- After taking an early 1-0 lead just moments into the match, the No. 3 John Brown University women's soccer squad overcame a technical red card to out-shoot and draw even late in a thrilling 2-2 draw with No. 14 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) Thursday evening (Sept. 4) inside LPS Centennial Stadium.
Just 1:56 into the match, sophomore Katherine Keys scored her fourth goal in two matches off a cross from junior Julia Lambert to hand the Blue and Gold (2-0-1) a quick 1-0 advantage.
While competing on a pitch with three different sets of lines, sophomore goalkeeper Marely Fonseca inadvertently picked up a ball outside the 18-yard box, prompting a red card and the Golden Eagles to play a man down for the final 72 minutes of the match.
Embry-Riddle (2-0-1) answered immediately off the free kick given for the red card when Jamie Black ripped a shot past JBU keeper Sunnie Woodard to level the match at one apiece.
Capitalizing on the momentum, the Eagles took the lead 13 minutes later as Black netted her second of the match.
The second half was a different story, however, as John Brown out-shot ERAU by a 6-2 margin, still a man down, and managed a dream ending to the match when sophomore Tianna Jones scored her first collegiate goal in the 88th minute of play to even the score at two apiece.
After a Keys' cross was tracked down by freshman Bella Bingham, Bingham again served a cross into the box that found Jones at the six-yard box for the tying score.
Despite just 2:01 left in the match, JBU still almost completed the comeback when Keys' nearly deposited the game winner just yards from goal with moments left in the match.
The Blue and Gold out-shot Embry-Riddle by an 8-7 margin, and left the Eagles without a corner kick attempt. Junior Addie Craig led all players with three shots, with Keys and Jones adding a pair for the Golden Eagles.
Woodard (0-0-1) made one save on three chances, earning the draw, while ERAU keeper Aubrianne Dupre also allowed a pair of goals on three chances.
John Brown will now rest and then face No. 3 College of Idaho on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 6) at 5 p.m. central daylight time. The pair of third-ranked squads battle after the NAIA released the first national poll of the season, showing JBU in its highest position in program history.
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