SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Junior Tianna Jones matched a career high, scoring twice and adding two assists as the No. 19 John Brown University women's soccer team raced past Nelson (Texas), 5-1, on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 17) at Alumni Field.
John Brown (10-1-2, 6-0-0 Sooner Athletic) extended its winning streak to six matches and its unbeaten run to 12. With three regular-season contests remaining, the Golden Eagles' magic number to secure the Sooner Athletic regular-season title stands at seven points.
Jones factored into each of the Golden Eagles' first four goals, scoring twice and setting up two more as John Brown carried a 4-0 advantage into halftime. The Blue and Gold finished with a 15-2 advantage in shots, placed 11 attempts on frame and did not allow Nelson to generate a single corner kick.
Jones wasted little time putting her stamp on the match after entering just one minute in.
Senior Brooklyn Hendricks played through the middle to senior Julia Lambert, who released Jones through the Nelson back line. Jones beat goalkeeper Delaney Murphy in the one-on-one, only to have a defender block the initial attempt off the goal line. The rebound stayed with Jones, who collected and finished through traffic from close range in the 5th minute for her seventh goal of the season.
The junior turned provider in the 17th minute as Jones launched a long cross from the left channel toward the back side of the penalty area, where senior Addie Craig brought it down and drove a six-yard finish back across goal and into the left side for a 2-0 advantage.
Jones collected her second goal seven minutes later. A Hendricks restart from well outside the penalty area dropped into the six-yard area, where Jones redirected the service with a header and pushed the margin to three in the 24th minute.
Her fourth contribution came just before halftime and required a combination down the right side.
Senior Clare Barger took the throw-in to Jones before immediately making a run through the Nelson back line. Jones returned the ball into Barger's path, and Barger sent a cross into the goalmouth for senior Ellie Porter, who met it with a one-touch finish from close range in the 42nd minute. The goal was Porter's first of the season and sent JBU into the break with a 4-0 lead.
Nelson (6-7-1, 2-3-1) managed just one first-half attempt, which freshman goalkeeper Ansley Fuchs turned away in the 7th minute.
The Golden Eagles continued controlling possession after the interval and added their fifth in the 75th minute. Junior Caitlin Hilson scored her third of the season, with junior Bella Mendieta and freshman Sophia Alvarado collecting the assists off the corner service.
JBU appeared headed for another clean sheet until Nelson broke through in the 87th minute. Mia Martinez finished the Lions' second and final shot of the afternoon off a feed from Ruth Mollel, spoiling the shutout bid with 3:15 remaining.
Jones finished with four shots, putting all four on frame, and accounted for six points with her two-goal, two-assist performance. Craig added three attempts with two on target, while five different Golden Eagles scored or assisted.
Fuchs (10-1-2) needed one save in the victory. Murphy stopped six shots for Nelson as John Brown finished with an 11-2 advantage in attempts on goal and generated all seven corner kicks.
The title chase now shifts to Plainview, Texas, where John Brown visits Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Wednesday (Oct. 21) for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff at J.V. Hilliard Field. The Urban Edge Network will carry the road contest live.
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