Fire Set for NAIA Top 10 Match Versus Keiser on Home Pitch

LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 4 Southeastern University women's soccer team is off to a steady start in Sun Conference play. Through two TSC contests, the Fire have outscored opponents 15-1. The Fire throttled the Webber International University Warriors 7-0 at the SEU Soccer Complex last week, netting five of those seven goals within the first 20 minutes of action. Southeastern shifts its focus to a monumental conference matchup, a NAIA Top-10 contest that will determine the top seat in the TSC standings against No. 9 Keiser at the SEU Soccer Complex.

MATCH:
The Sun Conference Game of the Week
No. 4 Southeastern (9-1, 2-0 TSC) vs No. 9 Keiser (10-2, 3-0 TSC) Wednesday 7:30 p.m.

COVERAGE:
WATCH/LIVE STATS

FIRE FOCUS:

• Southeastern leads the NAIA in goals (5) and assists (5.7) per game.
• The Fire also rank eighth in the country in shots on goal per game (13.2) and total shutouts (6).
• Junior forward Uchenna Kanu tied her own single-game program record for goals scored, with five scores against Webber.
• Kanu scored more goals (5) than Webber had shots on goal (4). The Abia, Nigeria native has netted more goals than the opposing team has registered shots on frame six times this season.
• Kanu is averaging a score per 23.5 minutes of play
• Graduate midfielder Gabriella DiDio is on a four-match point streak for the Fire, totaling a pair of goals and five assists during that stretch.
• Redshirt-freshman forward Summer Rusher tied Kanu for the team-lead in assists last Wednesday with a three-helper game. The Ludgershall, England native ranks fourth in The Sun Conference in points per game (2.44).
•  Anchored by senior captain outside back Megan Penhaligon leads an SEU defensive unit that has held teams scoreless in the first half in four straight matches.
• Freshman goalkeeper Holly Eddins leads the Sun Conference and ranks 10^th in the NAIA in Goals Against Average (0.52).

HOME COOKIN:

• The Fire have won 29 consecutive home matches.
• 23 of those 29 consecutive home victories have been shutouts.
• SEU has outscored opponents 138-7 during the streak.
• The Fire have never lost at the SEU Soccer Complex under head coach Randy Belli.

 
SOAK UP THE SUN

• The Fire are 24-2-1 versus Sun Conference opponents under Randy Belli.
• 15 of those 24 conference wins have been shutouts.
• Southeastern has outscored conference opponents 137-19 during that stretch.
• Kanu has netted 45 goals in Sun Conference play all-time.

KEISER ALL-TIME

• Southeastern earned its first win in program history over Keiser last season in The Sun Conference Tournament Final, a 4-2 victory that also earned the Fire their first ever conference tournament title.
• Prior to last season's win, the Fire were 0-9-1 against the Seahawks, and had been outscored by KU 42-9.
• The last five SEU-KU matches have been determined by two goals or less.
• Kanu netted a hat trick versus Keiser in the TSC Final last season. Kanu, sophomore forward Aisha Solorzano, and junior midfielder Bania Duran are the only players on the Southeastern roster to have ever netted a goal versus Keiser.
• This marks the first time the rivalry has been played in Lakeland since 9/30/15.

THE SEAHAWKS:

• Six of Keiser's 12 matches of come against NAIA Top 25 teams, with both of their losses coming against ranked sides.
• The Seahawks have yet to surrender a goal in Sun Conference play, having outscored opponents 24-0 through their first four league matches.
• KU ranks 9^th in goals (4.2) and 3^rd in assists (4.33) per game in the NAIA.
• Freshman forward Matilda Ovenberger has been a sensation in her first collegiate season, ranking third in the NAIA in goals scored (18). The Sodra Sanby, Sweden native has registered four hat tricks on the season, including each of her last two matches.
• Another freshman in forward Linnea Axengren leads the conference in assists (12), totaling eight helpers in her last five contests.
• Junior goalkeeper Nina Haeberlin has not surrendered a goal in her last 415:39 played in the net. The Reinhardt transfer has 41 saves on the season.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

SEU
Goals per Game: 5.7
Shots per Game: 24
Shots on Goal per Game: 13.2
Shutouts: 6
Individual Goals Leader: Uchenna Kanu (29)
Individual Assists Leader: Two Tied (8)
Individual Saves Leader: Holly Eddins (31)
 
KU
Goals per Game: 4.25
Shots per Game: 23.8
Shots on Goal per Game: 11.4
Shutouts: 6
Individual Goals Leader: Matilda Ovenberger (18)
Individual Assists Leader: Linnea Axengren (12)
Individual Saves Leader: Nina Haeberlin (41)
 
 
BELLI'S BRAIN:
 
"Keiser is one of the nation's elite teams. We always have a tough match with them and look forward to having it in front of our home supporters,"- Randy Belli Southeastern Head Coach.
 
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