SILOAM SPRINGS — Jimmy Hampton called it in the air.
When Lindsey Daughtery connected on a free kick from about 40 yards out just 48 seconds into the second overtime, Hampton excitedly said “We might have got her.”
The longtime Science & Arts women’s soccer coach was spot on. Daughtery’s kick lofted over the outstretched arms of John Brown University keeper Maggie Allen to propel the Drovers to a 2-1 victory in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championship at Alumni Field on Friday.
“Lindsey has such a good strike on her,” Hampton said. “That’s probably her ninth or 10th goal from way out like that because she’s got so much range. At the end of the day, they look easy. But they’re hard balls for goal keepers, even very talented goal keepers like (Allen) because they are difficult to defend.”
The win gave the second-seeded Drovers (17-3-1) an automatic berth into next weekend’s NAIA National Championship while the top-seeded Golden Eagles (18-3) will learn if they received an at-large bid at 11 a.m. on Monday.
It was the top-seeded Golden Eagles’ fifth consecutive appearance in the conference tournament title game and fourth straight season they’ve hooked up against the Drovers. The teams have split those past four meetings, so Friday’s match served as a rubber match of sorts.
Daughtery’s winning goal was one of the few chances Science & Arts had against Allen, the SAC Freshman Keeper of the Year, as the Golden Eagles out-shot the Drovers by a whopping 18-3 margin.
“Welcome to soccer; it’ll break your heart sometimes,” said JBU coach Kathleen Paulson. “It was a well-struck ball and, to their credit, they put it on the frame and that’s half the battle. That always gives it a chance to go in.
“But I’m proud of this team, proud of this group of girls and these seniors, too. They’re studs, even in how they handle themselves after a big disappointment like this.”
The Drovers struck first less than 98 seconds into the regulation when Allie Gordon broke free on a fast break to score off a pass from Daughtery. Gordon, who scored her 13th goal of the season, exited the game shortly after with a leg injury and was only able to return for a few minutes during the first overtime.
JBU answered when Sara Frey scored from 30 yards out off of an assist from Katherine Haar with 23:31 remaining in the half. Frey, senior, split a pair of defenders before hitting a high shot over keeper Brandi Hutchison’s head and into the back of the net. It was Frey’s ninth goal of the season.
“They had our backs to the wall and came close to taking the lead several times,” Hampton said. “But for us, it’s not a stat line. If you put yourself in position on the road against a top-20, very talented team like they are, that’s all we can ask for my girls.
“It was a big hit for us when Allie G. came out and it took a lot away from our attack, but we rolled two or three girls in there and they helped give us a chance late.”