October 19, 2024
Siloam Springs, AR – The Nelson University Lions men's soccer team faced a tough road test on Saturday, October 19, as they took on John Brown University in a hard-fought Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) matchup. Despite a late goal by Nathanael Zozaya, the Lions were unable to overcome John Brown, falling 2-1.
Lion Review
The Lions held strong through the first half, keeping John Brown off the scoresheet. Nelson goalkeeper Leonel Cuellar was a standout in the first 67 minutes, making 5 crucial saves to keep the match level heading into the second half. The Lions' defense held firm, with players like Jauvaughn Hines and Saul Guillermo battling hard to prevent early breakthroughs.
However, the Golden Eagles broke through in the 57th minute, when Marcos Miranda found the back of the net, assisted by Erick Diaz. John Brown struck again just 11 minutes later, with Alejandro Gallardo scoring off a header to extend the lead to 2-0.
Nelson showed resilience, responding quickly in the 71st minute. Nathanael Zozaya, assisted by Jafet Ramirez, buried a shot to cut the deficit to 2-1. Despite the momentum shift and late-game pressure, the Lions couldn't find the equalizer, as John Brown's defense held strong.
In total, the Lions tallied six shots, three of which were on goal. Cuellar and Michael Smith, who took over in goal for the final 23 minutes, combined for 9 saves, keeping the Lions within striking distance throughout the match.
Next Up
The Lions will look to bounce back as they return home to the Lions Athletic Complex in Waxahachie, TX, for their next SAC contest against Oklahoma City University on Tuesday, October 22, at 7:00 PM.
Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
