Van Der Liut Scores Twice to Propel SEU to Conference Championship

LAKELAND, Fla. – A few hours after netting a game-winning goal in the semfinals, freshman Jake Van Der Liut scored both goals in a 2-1 win over St. Thomas in the championship game. 

The first occurred in just the 13^th minute when he snuck by the back line for a fast break and a one-on-one test with the 6-5 goal keeper, Deljan Bregasi. A swift right footed move beat Bregasi to his left for the first goal of the game and Van Der Luit's second of the tourney.
 
The Fire held on to the one goal buffer at half until Van Der Luit and Gerritson Craane combined in the 50^th minute. Craane carried down the left side then sent a cross that Van Der Luit buried into the bottom left. The Bloomingdale High School grad was selected as the tournament most valuable player.

"I've been playing on a bad shoulder so I knew that I wasn't going to be as physical but was still going to have the pace and I just tried to go out there and give 100% for my team," said Van Der Luit. "This is the greatest moment of my soccer career and I'm so glad I could come through for the upper classmen on the team."

St. Thomas scored their lone goal in the 51^st minute on a shot to the far post that beat keeper Jorge Navarrete who slipped on the play. In the same instance, a red card was issued to a St. Thomas player forcing them to play the final 39 minutes shorthanded.

"I'm just so proud of these kids for leaving it on the field," said Coach Clay Roberts. "In preseason they set goals and almost every single one has been achieved and I can't say enough about them and their work ethic in trying to reach those goals."
 
The Bobcats outshot the Fire 21 to 12, but the Fire shot with outstanding accuracy in comparison as each team recorded five shots on goal.
 
"They are one of the best teams in our conference and I have nothing but respect for Felix, their head coach. He is a class act and a true teacher of the game," said Roberts.
 
Freshman keeper Jorge Navarrete played the entire 90 minutes and made four saves.
 
"This is a fantastic night for SEU and a fantastic night for our team and we look forward to the next step. Everything is new this year so we're just going to keep doing what we're doing. It's gotten us this far so there's no reason to stray from it," said Roberts.
 
The Fire will move on to compete in the NAIA National Tournament that opens on Saturday, November 21^st. The exact times and locations are to be determined.