Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – The second seeded Southeastern University women's soccer team opened up the 2017 Sun Conference Tournament with a resounding statement. The Fire defeated the USC Beaufort Sand Sharks 8-0 in the quarterfinals of the tournament. This marks the second consecutive season SEU has earned an 8-0 result in the conference quarterfinals.
"Today was a great all-around performance for us. We are thankful to get this result and look forward to competing in the semifinals," shared head coach Randy Belli.
The Fire wasted little time asserting themselves in the contest, finishing their first shot attempt of the day for a score. Sophomore defender Konya Plummer played a through ball to junior Shayna Cole, who scored far post. This was the first of four first half goals scored by SEU.
Sophomore forward Uchenna Kanu continued to break her own program record for individual goals scored in a single season, finding the back of the net twice in the game to push her total to 38 goals scored.
Kanu's first score came in the 20th minute off excellent build up play from Cole and freshman forward Aisha Solorzano. The Abia, Nigeria native slid the ball past the USCB keeper to put the Fire up 2-0. Solorzano advanced her season assist total to 14 with two on the day, and has now recorded a helper in eight straight matches.
An own goal gave the Fire a 3-0 advantage in the 34thminute.
Southeastern capped off an explosive first half with sophomore forward Rachel Wallace scoring her first goal of the season to give SEU a 4-0 lead at the half.
The Fire repeated the same feat they completed in the first half, converting their first shot attempt into a goal. Junior midfielder Lynsey Kelly rocketed in a ball to the top shelf from 35 yards out in the 51st minute for her first goal of the season.
Freshman midfielder Kristal Pesina headed in Wallace's corner kick for her second goal of the season to put SEU up 6-0 in the 69th minute. Both of Pesina's goals have been scored off corners.
Kanu notched her second score of the day in 72nd minute, heading a beautifully placed long ball from sophomore defender Sierra Clayton.
Freshman midfielder Isabel Madson capped off the flurry of SEU scoring in the 78th minute with her third goal of the year.
The Fire are now set to face the third seeded St. Thomas University Bobcats in The Sun Conference Semifinals Tuesday night. The match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.
