Intense Rivalry Meets Again

%281%29+Abdel+Nait-Zerrad%2C+senior+forward%2C+shoots+around+Lyon+College%E2%80%99s+goalkeeper+to+aid+the+Drovers+in+a+2-1+win+in+mid-September.+%282%29+Mackenzie+Holub%2C+junior+forward%2C+outruns+her+WBU+defender+at+USAO%E2%80%99s+annual+Pink+Out+night.+Photos+by+Emily+Loughridge.

(1) Abdel Nait-Zerrad, senior forward, shoots around Lyon College’s goalkeeper to aid the Drovers in a 2-1 win in mid-September. (2) Mackenzie Holub, junior forward, outruns her WBU defender at USAO’s annual Pink Out night. Photos by Emily Loughridge.

Emily Loughridge, Contributing Writer

USAO will take on long-time rival, John Brown University, at home Tuesday, Oct. 26. The night will be dedicated to Brisco McPherson, USAO alumnus, program record holder, longtime head basketball coach, and retired athletic director. McPherson led the USAO Men’s basketball team to the National Championship in 2001.

Both the men’s and women’s will play with the women’s game beginning at 5 pm and the men’s game at 7:30 pm. USAO’s women have a 13-3 record and a nine-game win streak. The Drovers have given up only one goal during this run and have picked up 51 goals for themselves. The Drovers are 7-0 at McLaughlin Field, USAO’s home pitch.

Forward Emma Rice said she feels the USAO women will play hard. “I have the highest expectations for my team because I know the great things we are capable of. There is no lack of talent, grit, or heart, and I truly believe we can make anything happen when we give it everything we have,” she said.

JBU’s women’s team is ranked seventh in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with a 12-1 record. JBU lost a game early in the season to #16 Lindsey Wilson, with a 2-1 final score. JBU’s Golden Eagles are also supporting a nine-game win streak. The JBU women, similarly to USAO, have given up only one goal during this run, and have taken 29 goals for themselves during their streak.

USAO’s men have a 7-6-3 record and a #22 ranking in the NAIA. In early October, USAO sent Texas Wesleyan University into overtime and managed to score with a few minutes left when Gideon Bossman, senior midfielder, headed the ball into the net, making the score 3-2 in USAO’s favor. The Drovers will come into the game against JBU hot after a recent 10-0 win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University.

Malik Hasanovich, a freshman midfielder for the Drovers, said his expectations are high for the team.

“We may be in a tough situation, but we’ll approach this game like every other, with high expectations of a win,” he said. “I’m sure this team can do the job and get a win here at the Drover Dome.”

JBU’s season closely matches the Drovers’, with a 6-8 record. JBU’s stand-out player, Jacob Zamarron, a junior forward, leads JBU in four categories: goals, assists, points, and shots. The Golden Eagles had a short two-game win streak, but that run was cut short Oct. 23 when Mid-American Christian University sent JBU into double overtime and scored a final goal, making the score 3-2 in MACU’s favor.

 

Emily Loughridge is a freshman communication major from Union City, OK.