LAKELAND, Fla. - After an impressive 8-0 win over Ave Maria University on Saturday, the Fire women's soccer team is seeking to continue their dominance as they head into the second round of the Sun Conference tournament. Southeastern will face St. Thomas University on Tuesday, November 8th at 6 p.m.
TSC Game 2: Southeastern University (16-1, The Sun Conference 9-1) vs. St. Thomas University (11-6, The Sun Conference 5-5)
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The Star-Studded Fire: The Fire's attack has been nothing short of exhilarating this whole season. The team ranks ninth in all of the NAIA in Goals per game averaging 3.65 a match. They also rank 15th in total goals with 62.
In her eight matches, the freshman from Abia, Nigeria, Uchenna Kanu, is one of the many threats on the Fire offense. She has been a part of 15 goals, scoring 12 and assisting in three.
Southeastern is home to the Sun Conference's leading goal scorer, Alyssa Kaminski. The senior transfer from Polk State College has recorded 29 points this season scoring 14 goals and logging one assist. She ranks eighth in all of the NAIA in total game winning goals with six.
The sophomore from Magnolia, Delaware, Shayna Cole, is another key piece the Fire use to create and finish goal scoring opportunities. Cole has tallied up seven goals and seven assists this season while unleashing 43 shots on net.
Setting up the Fire attack are both Konya Plummer and Rebecca Reynolds. The two women combine for 19 assists. Plummer leads the team with 10 and Reynolds has recorded nine. The freshman from Jamaica, Plummer, has done her fair share of scoring as well with six goals.
Southeastern is a well rounded team that also possesses an impenetrable defense. The Fire rank 5th in all of the NAIA in total shutouts. Playing a big part in this statistic is the junior goalkeeper Sydni Brookhouser. The Cape Coral, Florida native has recorded 42 saves this season.
St. Thomas: In their opening match of the Sun Conference Tournament, the Bobcats traveled Georgia to take on the Nighthawks of Thomas University. The Bobcats came away with a 2-0 victory to advance to the semifinal match.
The Bobcats are headed by coach Michelle Smith in her 10th season and feature an offense that spreads the ball around to multiple goal scorers. Leading the way is Sarah Lyppert Thomsson. In the match against Thomas, Lyppert Thomsson recorded both goals for the Bobcats to seal the victory and increase her season goal total to five.
Also aiding in the offensive attack is Jannel Johnson. The senior forward from Miramar, Florida has netted five goals along with two assists. In her 17 games played, Johnson launched 42 shots 21 of which have been on goal.
Rounding off the trio of goal scorers for the Bobcats is Kortney Hinden. Hinden, a sophomore, has been apart of eight goals, scoring five and assisting in three.
The Bobcats netminder comes in the form of Olivia Waller. In ten games this season, Waller holds a 6-3 record with 25 saves. The semi-final match will be the first time Waller has faced Southeastern.
Uncharted Territory: The Fire have yet to play in a Sun Conference semifinal match, but the Bobcats have crossed that bridge before when they played Keiser University last year. The Fire and the Bobcats squared off last season in Sun Conference tournament play where the Bobcats were able to secure a 3-0 victory. However, in the game earlier in the season the Fire were able to come away with a 2-1 win. Sun Conference play is unlike anything else. Both teams are coming of big wins which sets the stage for an exciting semifinal match.
For all of the action, be sure to follow @SEUFireWSoccer on Twitter.
