Fog Interrupts Match, Golden Eagles Settle for 1-1 Draw with Rams
SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (October 25, 2014) -- Senior midfielder Martin Gonzalez finally got the Golden Eagles (7-6-2, 3-3-2 SAC) on the board in the 73rd minute, but due to access fog that covered Alumni Field in a thick haze, the match was called with 4:08 left to play in regulation as JBU settled for a 1-1 draw tonight against Texas Wesleyan.
Despite heavily out-shooting the visitors, 26-9, the visiting Rams struck early in the first half to take a 1-0 lead. Brandon Head netted his sixth goal of the season off a pretty up-field volley from Brien Avalos in the 4th minute of play.
John Brown had its opportunities to score, but TWU keeper Arturo Sanchez tied a career-high with nine saves in the match. Freshman goalkeeper Adam Holt was only called upon twice throughout the night as he made one-second half save in the draw.
After owning an 8-3 shooting advantage in the first half, the Golden Eagles continued to press into the second half, firing 18 shots towards Sanchez. Finally, in the 73rd minute, Gonzalez was able to redirect a Collin Smith shot past Sanchez to even the score at one apiece. Gonzalez began the play by dishing off a nifty give-and-go with Smith. Smith was ready to accept the pass in the box and turned to fire a shot on net. Gonzalez, who had bolted straight for the front of the net after his pass, got a leg on Smith’s shot that redirected into the right side of the goal.
It was Gonzalez’s third goal of the season and the 20th of his career. Smith picked up his fifth helper of 2014.
In the 86th minute, the fog finally had overrun the field as the players couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of them. After officials conferred, the teams agreed upon having the match called at the 85:52 mark. Only 70 minutes is needed for a match to be considered official.
The tie keeps the Golden Eagles in sixth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings heading into the final week of play. The top eight programs will quality for the conference tournament. JBU finishes off the regular season slate of matches on Tuesday (Oct. 28) when it travels to Mid-America Christian (Okla.) for a 3 p.m. kick-off.
