SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- A penalty kick less than three minutes into the second half proved decisive as No. 17 John Brown University women's soccer fell to Science & Arts (Okla.), 1-0, in the Sooner Athletic tournament championship Monday evening (Nov. 9) at Alumni Field, ending the Golden Eagles' run of six consecutive tournament titles.
John Brown generated the greater share of attacking chances and repeatedly tested the USAO goal, but could not find a finish. Science & Arts converted from the penalty spot shortly after the interval and protected the one-goal margin the rest of the way.
The championship matchup marked the seventh consecutive season John Brown and Science & Arts met for the SAC tournament title. Monday's result sent the league's automatic berth into the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship to the Drovers and left the Golden Eagles awaiting at-large consideration.
Science & Arts applied the early pressure, earning six corner kicks inside the opening 18 minutes. Freshman goalkeeper Ansley Fuchs denied Ilse de Jong in the 11th minute, and the Drovers later came closest to breaking through when de Jong struck the crossbar in the 31st.
John Brown answered with opportunities of its own. Senior Addie Craig and sophomore Joy Long both forced saves from Hilgenkamp before Craig beat the goalkeeper in the 34th minute only to see her attempt strike the post.
The match remained scoreless through halftime, but USAO broke through at 47:25 when Dagbjort Gudmundsdottir converted a penalty kick for her 20th goal of the season after a soft call inside the Blue and Gold box generated the opportunity.
JBU spent the remainder of the second half searching for an equalizer and continued putting Hilgenkamp under pressure. Senior Brooklyn Hendricks forced a stop in the 54th minute, junior Caitlin Hilson tested her in the 64th and junior Tianna Jones followed with another effort in the 80th.
The Golden Eagles produced two more chances in the closing minutes. Junior Katherine Keys had a header saved in the 85th minute before Long forced Hilgenkamp into her final stop with just over a minute remaining.
John Brown finished with a 12-4 advantage in shots and placed seven attempts on goal compared with two for Science & Arts. Hilgenkamp made seven saves to preserve the shutout, while USAO finished with a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
Fuchs (14-2-3) made one save for the Golden Eagles, who suffered just its second loss of the season.
John Brown now awaits an at-large decision from the NAIA for the national championship field. The NAIA Women's Soccer Selection Show is scheduled for Friday (Nov. 13) at 5 p.m. on the association's YouTube channel, with first- and second-round play set for Nov. 19-21 at campus sites.
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