Winning this Homecoming is not going to come easy.
The Golden Eagles will play the fifth ranked team in the nation on Homecoming Weekend.
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma was ranked number five in this week’s NAIA coaches poll and will play John Brown on Saturday.
“As a player and as a coach you love these opportunities,” said men’s head coach John Miglarese. “Our boys are going to be up for it.”
USAO has yet to lose this season and comes in on a six-game winning streak.
Coming off a loss to OBU on Saturday, the Eagles will look to end a 1-3-1 stretch that began Sept. 8.
“It was a difficult loss for us,” said John Miglarese, men’s head coach. “OBU is one of the most talented teams we’ll have to play in conference.”
A goal by OBU junior forward Tito Silva in the 75th minute gave the Bison a 1-0 victory last Saturday.
That goal came after a number of prime Eagle chances were turned aside by the Bison defense and keeper
“We missed our chances,” said Miglarese, “We should have been one or two goals up midway through the second half.”
Against USAO, the Golden Eagles will have to contend with junior forwards Sansford Perry and Nicolas Alberto.
Perry and Alberto both lead the Drovers with eight goals.
“They are a physical, hard-nosed, effective team,” said Miglarese. “They’re going to hit you, there going to press you and they’re going to make the game extremely difficult for you.”
They will also have to deal with a USAO defense that had six consecutive shutouts earlier in the season.
Miglarese said junior midfeilder Luke Theimer may return from a facial fracture sustained in a Sept. 3rd game against Harding.
During the five games that the Eagles’ captain has missed they have gone 1-3-1.
With another loss, John Brown will fall to 0-2 in conference play.
“Our backs are against the wall in conference,” said Miglarese. “We have to be calm, tenacious, loose and excited.”
John Brown will play USAO this Saturday at 3 p.m. at Alumni Field.