SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Freshmen Hodei Artetxe and Kevin Acosta each scored the first goal of their collegiate careers as the No. 14 John Brown University men's soccer team returned to the win column with a 4-1 victory over Nelson (Texas) on Saturday evening (Oct. 17) at Alumni Field.
Artetxe opened the scoring less than two minutes into the match before the Golden Eagles broke open a one-goal contest after halftime. Sophomore Constantin Bauer and senior Ransford Okyere struck just 4:20 apart before Acosta capped JBU's four-scorer effort in the 82nd minute.
John Brown (8-3-1, 4-2-0 Sooner Athletic) snapped a two-match skid while finishing with a 22-11 advantage in shots and placing 13 attempts on frame. The Blue and Gold also generated seven corner kicks and forced Nelson goalkeeper Yahir Perez into nine saves.
Senior Amaury Jarry created the early breakthrough in the 2nd minute. Jarry streaked up the right flank and worked around a pair of Lion defenders before sending a cross into the goalmouth, where Artetxe was waiting alone to bury a one-touch finish from just a few yards out.
The Golden Eagles continued creating chances throughout the opening half but could not add to the advantage. Senior Jorge Cervantes forced Perez into a pair of saves during the opening 11 minutes, while Jarry and junior Andres Pereira also tested the Nelson keeper before halftime.
JBU carried a 10-2 advantage in shots into the break but remained in front by only one.
The separation finally arrived in the 63rd minute, again through Jarry.
The senior carried forward along the right side through midfield before cutting inside and delivering an outside-of-the-foot pass upfield to Bauer. The sophomore took two touches and unleashed a right-footed strike from the top of the penalty area, curling his fifth goal of the season into the right side to double the lead.
Four minutes later, John Brown made it 3-0 with one of its sharpest combinations of the evening.
Senior Marco Brizuela played into the middle for Bauer, whose one-touch flick released Cervantes forward. Cervantes controlled and laid the ball left for Okyere, who hammered a first-time left-footed strike from the left edge of the six-yard box off the underside of the crossbar and in for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Acosta supplied the fourth in the 82nd minute following a recycled attacking sequence. Brizuela regained possession centrally and chipped a ball over the Nelson back line toward the penalty area. Acosta rose above a defender and redirected the pass with his head, lifting it over the oncoming Perez from 10 yards for his first collegiate goal.
Nelson (4-7-2, 1-4-1) prevented the clean sheet in the 87th minute when Daniel Alvarado scored off a Caleb Cuellar assist.
Bauer finished with a goal and an assist while putting two of his three shots on frame. Jarry supplied two assists and generated a team-high five attempts, and Cervantes added an assist while placing three of his four shots on target.
Junior goalkeeper Juan Almanza (6-3-1) made four saves in the victory, all after halftime, including a crucial, point-blank stop of Aldridge in the 71st minute. Perez finished with nine stops for the visitors.
John Brown heads back on the road Wednesday (Oct. 21), traveling to Plainview, Texas, for a pivotal 3 p.m. meeting with Wayland Baptist (Texas) at J.V. Hilliard Field. Fans can follow the Golden Eagles live from Texas on the Urban Edge Network.
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