JEFFERSON, La. -- Senior Addie Craig scored in the 84th minute, just 2:43 after Xavier (La.) had pulled even for the third time, and the No. 16 John Brown University women's soccer team completed a wild second-half comeback with a 4-3 victory over the Gold Nuggets at Lafreniere Park on Friday evening (Sept. 4).
The winner capped a night in which John Brown (3-1-0) twice erased one-goal deficits, turned a 2-1 disadvantage into a 3-2 lead in just over three minutes and ultimately survived a six-goal second half to secure its third victory of the season.
After Xavier's Julia Gurgel tied the match at 3-3 in the 81st minute, Craig restored the advantage at 83:22. Brooklyn Hendricks picked up her second assist of the night as Craig netted her second goal of the season.
The Blue and Gold entered halftime trailing 1-0 after Shakiana Dagher gave Xavier (1-2-1) the advantage in the 32nd minute. The deficit lasted just 44 seconds after the restart, however, as junior Tianna Jones converted a Hendricks assist for her third goal of the season to bring the visitors level.
Xavier regained the lead six minutes later on Alba Mendez's first goal of the season, but JBU's most decisive stretch of the night followed.
Sophomore Joy Long tied the match at two apiece in the 66th minute with her third goal of the year and, just 3:08 later, freshman Vanessa Frias gave the Golden Eagles their first lead, finishing off an assist from senior Clare Barger for her first collegiate goal.
That burst turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 advantage before the hosts mounted its own response in the closing stages.
The Gold Nuggets forced freshman goalkeeper Ansley Fuchs into three saves between the 63rd and 81st minutes before Gurgel finally broke through at 80:39 to make it 3-3. The tie barely lasted.
Craig's goal at 83:22 put John Brown back in front, and this time, there was no Xavier answer.
The Golden Eagles finished with a 16-13 advantage in total shots, including a 10-6 edge after halftime as the match opened up. Xavier placed nine attempts on goal compared with six for John Brown, requiring Fuchs (3-1-0) to make six saves – a career-high – while allowing three goals over the full 90 minutes.
Xavier's Aylin Yildirim made two saves on six JBU shots on goal, conceding four times in taking the loss.
John Brown wraps up its Labor Day weekend road trip with a stop in Shreveport, La. on the way back home. The Golden Eagles will take on LSU-Shreveport (La.) on Monday afternoon, with kickoff scheduled for a 1 p.m. The match will be streamed live on YouTube.
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