Omondi Finally Breaks Through, Men's Soccer Runs Past Southwest Baptist
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- After sending eight shots on goal and coming up scoreless in his first outing, sophomore Kelvin Omondi made up for missed chances in match two, scoring a pair of first-half goals, in John Brown University's 3-0 win over Southwest Baptist (Mo.) on Friday (Aug. 26) evening at Alumni Field.
In front of a packed house in the third annual First Game Under the Lights series, the Golden Eagles moved to 2-0-0 on the season and 3-0 all-time against the Bearcats (0-1-0).
JBU tripled up the visitors in shots, 21-7, in a fairly lopsided affair, as junior keeper Adam Holt (2-0-0) needed just a pair of first-half saves to notch his second straight shutout to start the 2016 season.
Omondi got the scoring going in the 30th minute when the striker cleaned up a Conner Haney blast from the right flank. Just yards away from the goal line, Omondi and flock of players found a loose ball, but Omondi finally tallied his first of the season, breaking JBU's 232-minute goalless drought in the First Game Under the Lights series.
Five minutes later, Omondi was hit with a shot just inside the box, but took the loose ball a broke between a pair of SBU defenders, and slipped a shot past Bearcat keeper Lajos Zadravecz for a 2-0 lead.
Haney, who possessed the ball most of the match in the middle and up the flanks, unleashed a shot in the 78th minute, which SBU backup Matt Garza punched aside. Haney, not giving up on the offensive opportunity, collected the rebound, cut back into the middle and ripped a shot to the upper 90, marking the sophomore's second goal in as many contests.
Ten substitutes earned their first collegiate appearances, including Estiven Saldarriaga, Benard Mwangi, Connor Christians, Amilcar Gonzalez, Ryan Smithand Tim Huffine.
Holt's clean sheet was his 13th career shutout, moving him into fifth-place all-time.
John Brown returns to action on Saturday (Sept. 3), when the Golden Eagles host Benedictine (Kan.), JBU's oldest rival, at Alumni Field. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.
