BETHANY, Okla. -- Senior Ransford Okyere scored once and helped create another during an early two-goal burst as the No. 13 John Brown University men's soccer team remained unbeaten in Sooner Athletic play with a 3-0 victory over Southwestern Christian (Okla.) on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 29) at Cagle Family Field.
John Brown (6-1-1, 2-0-0 SAC) needed less than 12 minutes to build a two-goal advantage, while sophomore Constantin Bauer helped manufacture the final two tallies by forcing turnovers in dangerous areas.
The victory also extended the Golden Eagles' unbeaten run against Southwestern Christian to six consecutive meetings.
JBU struck first in the 7th minute after moving the ball from the middle of the field toward the right side. Okyere collected the long service, drove up the flank and cut toward goal before slipping the ball centrally to senior Gabriel Cabrera. From six yards, Cabrera met it first-time and produced a spinning finish that bent toward the left side of goal for his second of the season.
The visitors doubled the margin just 4:18 later.
In the 12th minute, Bauer dispossessed Southwestern Christian near midfield to ignite the counterattack, and junior Andres Pereira quickly shifted the ball right to the onrushing Okyere. The senior raced into the penalty area, cut back toward the middle and curled a left-footed strike through three defenders from 15 yards into the left side of goal to double the advantage.
Okyere's third goal of the campaign sent John Brown into control early, and the Blue and Gold carried the 2-0 advantage into the break. Freshman Ignacio Abarca nearly added another in the 28th minute, but his effort was cleared off the line by the SCU defense.
Southwestern Christian (5-2-1, 0-2-0 SAC) found more of the ball later in the opening half, but none of its four attempts before the interval reached junior goalkeeper Juan Almanza.
The Golden Eagles continued creating chances after halftime without immediately finding the third. Senior Jorge Cervantes forced goalkeeper Axel Tricot into a save in the 69th minute and threatened again nine minutes later, while freshman Chriss Salinas put another effort on frame in the 79th.
Bauer's pressure finally created the insurance goal in the 85th minute.
The sophomore again forced a turnover in the attacking midfield before finding Cervantes on the right side. Cervantes drove into the box and ripped a 14-yard attempt off the crossbar, with the ball crashing down across the goal line for his first goal of the season and a 3-0 advantage.
The hosts generated one final threat in the closing minutes. Freshman Jaksa Pantic cleared Gabin Desplats' 86th-minute effort away for a defensive save before Almanza turned aside Alessio Purnelle's header at the final whistle to preserve the clean sheet.
Eight of John Brown's 12 shots reached the target, compared with two of Southwestern Christian's six attempts. The Golden Eagles also held a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Bauer finished with two assists while generating three shots of his own, and Okyere accounted for a goal on his only attempt and a helper. Cervantes added three shots, putting two on frame, while Cabrera converted his lone opportunity.
Almanza (4-1-1) made one save to complete the shutout, with Pantic supplying the defensive stop late. Tricot recorded four saves in the loss for the host side.
League play returns to Alumni Field on Saturday (Oct. 3), when John Brown hosts Science & Arts (Okla.) at 3:30 p.m. as part of homecoming weekend. The matchup can be seen live on the Urban Edge Network and SAC Sports Network.
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