Saturday Night College Fútbol: USAO Opens Conference-Play Against Rival JBU on Sept. 27
CHICKASHA, Okla. – On Saturday, September 27, the USAO soccer teams will open conference play with a highly anticipated double-header against John Brown University (Ark.). The women are scheduled to kick-off at 4:00 PM CT, followed by the men's game at 6:30 PM at McLaughlin Field.
Additionally, the NAIA has tabbed the women's showdown as one of the top games of the week and will be avaiable to a global audience on Urban Edge Network, as well as the SAC Sports Network.
WOMEN'S PREVIEW
The women's game is once again a top 25 matchup, as the Drovers enter as the No. 22 ranked team in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, while the Golden Eagles enter at No. 6. Furthermore, USAO and JBU shared last season's SAC regular season championship, and they have met in each of the last five SAC Tournament Championship games. In total, the Drovers have appeared in the last 10 conference tournament title games. In head-to-head matchups, the Golden Eagles hold a 26-11 advantage in the all-time series, dating to 2002.
The Drovers enter conference-play with a 5-2-2 overall record, having faced one of the most impressive non-conference schedules to begin the 2025 season. USAO's has faced the best of the best so far, with seven of their opening 10 games coming against opponents that are ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Thus far, they have wins against No. 5 College of Idaho, RV Columbia, LSU Shreveport, Southwestern (Kan.), Stephens College (Mo.), and losses against No. 20 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and RV Hastings (Neb.). The Drovers earned a pair of ties against No. 12 Embry-Riddle and RV Concordia (Neb.).
The Golden Eagles currently own a 3-2-2 record this season and have also put together a difficult non-conference schedule. JBU had defeated LSU Shreveport, Avila (Kan.), and Evangel (Mo.), while suffering losses against No. 5 College of Idaho and RV Columbia (Mo.). They concluded in ties against No. 10 Oklahoma Wesleyan and No. 12 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.).
The Drovers enter the rivalry game with a five-game shutout streak and a have not surrendered a goal in their last 499 minutes of playing time. Furthermore, three of the five shutouts have come against nationally ranked opponents (No. 5 College of Idaho, No. 12 Embry-Riddle, RV Columbia). During the shutout streak, USAO has outscored opponents 16-0.
This season, the Drovers are holding opponents to only 0.78 goals per game (2nd in SAC), while scoring 2.67 goals per contest (6th in SAC). JBU has surrendered 1.29 goals per game this season (6th in SAC) and have averaged 3.86 goals per match (3rd in SAC).
MEN'S PREVIEW
The men's game is sure to be an exciting one, as both teams are right outside of the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, and a win for either team could propel them into the next ratings release.
The Drovers are red-hot and enter with an impressive 4-1-3 record, coming off two of their best performances of the season, a thrilling 5-5 tie against RV Columbia (Mo.) as well as a 3-2 win on the road at No. 6 Bellevue (Neb.).
The Golden Eagles come into the contest with a 5-2-1 record, including a 3-0 win in their last outing against RV Columbia (Mo.). JBU's only two losses have come against No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and No. 14 LSU Shreveport and they tied No. 5 Oklahoma Wesleyan.
Through eight games, USAO has tallied 23 goals at a rate of 2.88 goals per contest (3rd in SAC). The Drover defense has surrendered only 12 goals total, at an average of 1.50 goals against per game (5th in SAC). In eight games for JBU, they have struck for 22 goals (2.75 per game – 4th in SAC) and have surrendered only eight goals (1.00 goals against per game – 1st in SAC).
In head-to-head matchups, the Drovers hold a 21-16-1 advantage in the all-time series, dating to 2000.
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