Strong Start Sends Men's Soccer to 4-1 Thwarting of Benedictine
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Three players each scored a goal and dished out an assist, leading the John Brown University men's soccer team to a commanding 4-1 over Bendictine (Kan.) on Saturday (Sept. 3) evening at Alumni Field.
Sophomores Kelvin Omondi, Conner Haney and Ryan Williams posted multi-point nights and the Golden Eagles (3-0-0) built a 2-0 lead in the first nine minutes to place the Ravens (0-1-1) in a deep hole in which the visitors would never recover.
"I thought we came out sharp and established the tone in the first 10-15 minutes," admitted head coach Scott Marksberry. "It's not an easy trip from Atchison down here. We tend to struggle early when we go up there.
"We executed really well on the offensive end and forced their keeper to hit passes that were uncomfortable for him. I wish we limited them more on the defensive end, but I was pleased with the way we attacked."
JBU struck first in the fifth minute when Williams sent a pass from the right side to a streaking Omondi in the box. Omondi, who netted his third of the season, cut inside his defender and deflected the pass past BC keeper Caleb Jenkins. It was Williams' first helper of the year while Haney notched his first of the game.
Just four minutes later, junior Steve Teshima netted his first career goal in beautiful fashion. Sophomore Ashby Clark back-heeled a pass to an overlapping Haney in the right corner, which allowed Haney to edge past his defender and send a cross into the box. Teshima headed in a gorgeous goal, doubling the hosts' lead.
After carrying a 2-0 lead into the half, John Brown just needed 6:55 of time in the second half to take a 3-0 lead. On a counter-attack and with numbers, Omondi dumped a pass into the middle to Haney, who found himself on a 2-on-1 with Teshima. Using Teshima as a pawn to draw the defender, Haney calmly slotted a shot past Jenkins to the right netting.
Finally, JBU capped off its scoring in the 65th minute when Williams converted a penalty kick.
Williams now has two goals on the season while Haney and Omondi both have three to lead the squad.
Junior keeper Adam Holt was tested early and often, and he needed to make 12 saves to earn the victory. His shutout bid was ruined with just over five minutes of play left in the contest when Adam James struck his first of the season from the right elbow of the six yard box.
Holt's best save came in the 31st minute when he deflected Zach Ferguson's shot destined for the top shelf over the crossbar. Holt also received a little bit of help in the 56th minute when Ferguson hit the post, but Holt also was able to block aside the rebound off the foot of Calum James.
Holt (3-0-0) set a single-match career high with 12 saves. Jenkins (0-1-1) was dinged with the loss, allowing all four goals while making four saves. Aaron Lippert relieved Jenkins following Williams' goal and made one save in 26 minutes of play.
The Golden Eagles have now won two of its last three against Benedictine and raise its record in the series to 5-7-2 all-time against the Ravens and 4-3-2 at Alumni Field.
John Brown will return to action on Thursday (Sept. 8) when it faces Bellevue (Neb.) in the first match of the 2016 Red Card Cancer Classic, hosted by McPherson (Kan.). The Golden Eagles will then take on Northwestern (Iowa) on Saturday (Sept. 10).
