The John Brown University soccer team celebrates their victory over Science and Arts College of Oklahoma. | Photo credit: Chloe Johnson
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— No. 10 John Brown University women’s soccer secured a win at the
Sooner Athletic Conference Championship game against the No. 17 Science and Arts (Okla.)
girls soccer team on Nov. 12. The game was held at JBU Alumni Field with the Golden Eagles
taking the win, 3-1.
There are many young women who play for JBU from the surrounding areas of Arkansas.
From Little Rock to Fayetteville, these players take on their passion of soccer in their home state
from the support of their families and surrounding communities.
Sophomore Sunnie Woodard grew up in Little Rock playing club and school ball for her high
school, which allowed her to continue her soccer career at JBU.
“It is fun because I get to be close to my family,” Woodard said. “I grew up in this part of the
state playing soccer and club, as well as watching the U of A. Whenever I had the opportunity to
come here, I couldn’t miss it,” Woodard said.
Sophomore Tianna Jones knows the benefit of having family close as well. She’s from
Bentonville, Arkansas.
“All of my family gets to come to the games and are able to watch,” Jones said. “Having a
community that is so close and being able to come to games, even having some of my friends
come out, is super special.”
As families from all around come to cheer on the girls through their season, it encourages the
girls to play each game with integrity and diligence. This creates an amped-up atmosphere for
the players to start off each game strong.
The game was a difficult one. The competition was tough, with the Golden Eagles scoring in
nine minutes of the first half, leading the game almost immediately. Starting the game off strong, Jones assisted a beautiful kick to senior Aubrey Winter with a headed goal.
With both teams battling for the next goal, JBU struck again first in the second half. For her 13th
goal of the season, junior Julia Lambert made a powered strike to make the score 2-0 in the
beginning of the second half with the help of Jones’ crossed ball straight towards the goal.
As the clock ticked down, a goal was scored by the opposing team. Paula Casajus’ 12th goal of
the season was assisted by teammates Emali Goulas and Ilse de Jong and made the score 2-1.
As the game went on, the Golden Eagles pushed themselves to stay on top of the game. As the game was coming to an end, Jones seized the ball for a shot on the goal. With six minutes remaining in the second half, Jones made an unassisted shot to make it her seventh goal of the season. Her goal made it 3-1, the final score.
With two assists and her own shot at the goal, Jones couldn’t have been happier.
“I’m just so happy, it’s like one of those things. It doesn’t really matter the score or anything, I am just so happy that we won,” Jones said.
The victory of the SAC championship game places John Brown into the second round of playoffs. The Golden Eagles achieved the win on Saturday. Nov. 22, beating Hastings College 4- 1 in an intense match up. John Brown is now advancing to play into the Round of 16 on Dec. 1-2. The Golden Eagles will compete in their first game against No. 12 Life University from Marietta, Georgia. The games will take place at the Ashton Brosnaham Park in Pensacola, Florida.