Howell nets second-straight trifecta in Golden Eagle drubbing of St. Gregory’s
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- Freshman Kristen Howell scored her second-consecutive hattrick en route to a four-goal outing and sophomore Jastin Redman added two goals and an assist, leading the No. 20 John Brown University women's soccer team to an easy 9-0 victory over St. Gregory's (Okla.) on Saturday (Oct. 8) afternoon at Alumni Field.
The Golden Eagles are now 7-0-0 at the friendly confines of Alumni Field.
With the four-goal outing, Howell not only joined Nikki Ganter (2003-06) as the only multi-hattrick goal scorers in program history, she tied an eight-year single-game program record set by Rachel Gerdin in 2008. Gerdin, who netted four goals against Mid-America Christian (Okla.) on Oct. 11, 2008, was the only previous four-goal outing prior to this afternoon. The redshirt freshman stands alone in program history having notched consecutive three-goal outings and also set a new record with seven goals in a two-match span.
Howell is on a three-match scoring tear, tallying eight goals and two assists, totaling 18 points.
JBU (10-1-1, 4-0-0 SAC) have now won six straight, dating back to Sept. 17 and senior Kristen Morency has not allowed a goal in 540 minutes. Over the six-game span, the Golden Eagles have out-scored its opponents by a 34-0 margin.
Morency didn't need to make a save this afternoon to collect her eighth shutout of the season. She continues to rewrite the JBU record books with the 34th solo clean-sheet effort of her career.
Howell's hattrick came in just 14:43, allowing the Golden Eagles to build a quick 4-0 lead in the 31st minute of play. Redman tallied her first of the game in the 14th minute until senior Sara Lachance tallied her third of the year in the 42nd minute, building a 5-0 lead at the half.
Redman kicked off the second half with a quick unassisted tally and just four minutes later in the 51st minute, sophomore Aspen Robinson added to her team-leading point total with an 18-yard blast from top of the box from Redman, forcing a 7-0 John Brown advantage.
In the 57th minute, Redman sent a long cross into the middle from the mid-left flank over the SGU back line, leading Howell into the box. Howell collected the pass and ripped her fourth of the game past Cavalier keeper Jena Flewelling and into the top left corner of the goal.
Junior Sam Weber, after earning SAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, netted her second goal in three matches with just under 15 minutes left in the match when she blasted a 20-yard free kick over an SGU wall and into the upper 90.
The Golden Eagles out-shot St. Gregory's (5-6-0, 1-3-0 SAC) by a 28-2 margin. Flewelling made nine saves in the loss.
John Brown will now enjoy a week off and return to the pitch on Saturday (Oct. 15) against Science & Arts (Okla.) at 2 p.m. at Alumni Field.