OKLAHOMA CITY -- Seniors Addie Craig and Julia Lambert each scored twice as the No. 20 John Brown University women's soccer team rolled past Mid-America Christian (Okla.), 4-0, on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 10) at Dill Soccer Field.
John Brown (9-1-2, 5-0-0 Sooner Athletic) extended its unbeaten streak to 11 matches and pushed its winning streak to five. Freshman Ansley Fuchs (9-1-2) made five saves to secure her eighth clean sheet of the season.
The Blue and Gold built a three-goal advantage before halftime, with Craig striking twice in the opening 22 minutes before Lambert added the third late in the period. JBU finished with a 17-11 advantage in shots and placed nine attempts on frame compared with five for Mid-America Christian.
John Brown nearly broke through in the 8th minute when sophomore Joy Long struck the crossbar, but the opening goal followed just over five minutes later.
A long cross from the left flank was headed toward the back post, where JBU kept the sequence alive and worked the ball back in front of goal. Craig met the return first-time and curled her finish into the left side at 12:45 for her sixth of the season. Long and junior Caitlin Hilson earned assists on the play.
Craig doubled the margin in the 22nd minute, as senior Ellie Porter and junior Tianna Jones combined to play the ball on the ground through the MACU back line, allowing Craig to collect in stride and break in one-on-one with goalkeeper Niamh Taylor. As Taylor came off her line to challenge, Craig slipped her finish past the keeper for her second of the match and seventh of the campaign.
Mid-America Christian (6-7-1, 3-2-0) generated its best first-half pressure during the ensuing stretch, but Fuchs turned aside Morgan Higgins twice to preserve the two-goal cushion.
Lambert then created the third marker herself in the 40th minute. The senior carried through the middle before chipping the ball ahead to herself through the MACU back line, then lifted another touch over the onrushing Taylor from 16 yards to send John Brown into halftime with a 3-0 advantage.
The Evangels produced the first two attempts after the interval, but neither reached Fuchs, and JBU eventually added its fourth after Lambert re-entered the match in the 67th minute.
Just 4:15 after checking back in, Lambert collected a ball played forward along the right flank by freshman Vanessa Frias, cut toward goal and carried through the penalty area around a defender. With only Taylor left to beat, Lambert buried the finish from close range in the 71st to complete her brace and push the margin to four.
Fuchs handled each of Mid-America Christian's final three shots on target over the closing 15 minutes, including stops on Korbyn Baker, Lexi Swetz and Brae Baker, to preserve the shutout.
Craig finished with four of her five attempts on frame while scoring twice, and Lambert converted both of her shots. Jones matched Craig with a team-high five attempts and added an assist, while five different Golden Eagles were credited with helpers.
Taylor recorded five saves in the loss for the host side.
A week separates the Blue and Gold from its next test, with Nelson (Texas) visiting Alumni Field at 4 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 17). The home date will stream live through the Urban Edge Network and SAC Sports Network.
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