Drovers Shut Down Golden Eagles, 3-0
CHICKASHA, Okla. (October 8, 2013) -- For just the second time this season, the Golden Eagles (5-6-0, 1-2-0 SAC) were held off the scoresheet as host Science & Arts (Okla.) pitched a 3-0 victory this afternoon at Drover Pitch.
USAO (5-4-0, 2-1-0 SAC), receiving votes in the latest NAIA poll, out-shot the visitors 25-7 en route to the clean sheet victory. The hosts edged John Brown in shots on goal, 8-3, and in corner kicks, 3-0.
"We have to credit USAO today, they are a strong team," admitted head coach Scott Marksberry. "They are built for a deep run into the postseason. They imposed their style of play on us today. I made too many adjustments which didn't allow us to play our style for a single minute of the match. It won't happen again."
Science & Arts scored all three goals in the first half while firing 13 shots towards senior goalkeeper Pablo Garcia. Garcia had to turn aside four shots in hopes of keeping his squad in contention. The Drovers scored early and often, tallying goals in the 13th, 24th and 38th minute, building a 3-0 halftime lead.
The second half featured better opportunities for the Golden Eagles to score as JBU earned four shots, forcing USAO netminder Bryan Byars to make a pair of saves. None was bigger than when Byars lept to his right in the 77th minute, denying junior forward Martin Gonzalez's bid for his sixth goal of the season.
Garcia (5-6-0) absorbed his sixth loss of the season, finishing with five saves while Byars (5-4-0) earned his fifth win and collected the shutout.
John Brown returns to the pitch at Alumni Field on Saturday (Oct. 12) when it hosts Oklahoma Baptist at 3:00 p.m.
