LAKELAND, Fla. – The sixth-seeded and No. 1 nationally-ranked Southeastern University women's soccer team is set to make a run at a national title. With a 4-0 result over Truett McConnell University in the Opening Round, the Fire clinched a spot in the 2018 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Final Site in Orange Beach, Alabama. The Fire face a familiar foe in the Round of 16, as they are tasked with the eleventh-seeded John Brown University Golden Eagles.
The NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Final Site:
No. 6 Seed Southeastern (18-1-2) vs. No. 11 John Brown University Golden Eagles (16-4-1) Tuesday 7:30 p.m. EDT
COVERAGE:
WATCH/LIVE STATS (Video Fees Apply)
FIRE FOCUS:
- Southeastern is making its second consecutive/all-time appearance at the Final Site of the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship.
- The Fire were the No. 12 seed last season, knocking off No. 5 Vanguard 1-0 in the Round of 16 before bowing out to No. 4 William Carey 2-0 in the Quarterfinal.
- As a team, SEU leads the NAIA in goals (108), assists (101), and goals per game (5.14). Additionally, the Fire rank second in total shutouts (15), third in shots on goal per game (12.57), and fourth in shots per game (24.52).
- Junior forward Uchenna Kanu leads the Fire and the NAIA in goals scored (52) and has totaled 18 assists as well.
- With 122 points on the season, the Abia, Nigeria native has already set a new NAIA single-season points record. Kanu is also one goal away from tying the NAIA single-season goals scored record.
- Four different players have 11 or more assists for SEU. Graduate midfielder Gabriella DiDio leads the squad with 20 assists, a single-season program record which ranks third in the NAIA.
- Freshman goalkeeper Holly Eddins ranks fourth in the NAIA in goals against average per game (.480). Eddins has posted eight full-90 shutouts this season.
POSTSEASON POWER
- SEU is 10-1-2 in the postseason all-time under head coach Randy Belli's guidance.
- The Fire have outscored opponents 49-11 in those matches.
- Kanu has 19 postseason goals all-time.
SOARING WITH THE EAGLES AGAIN:
- SEU defeated JBU in Siloam Springs, Arkansas 3-1 in the regular season back on September 1.
- The Fire out-shot he Eagles 17-13, Kanu netted all three SEU goals, finding the back of the net in the 17th, 61st, and 67th minutes.
- Senior forward and leading scorer for the Golden Eagles Jastin Redman scored the lone John Brown goal.
- Southeastern handed John Brown its first loss on Alumni Field, their home pitch, since 9/10/15.
THE GOLDEN EAGLES:
- After falling to Southeastern, John Brown went 6-0-1 over its next seven matches, outscoring opponents 15-3 and notching three wins over ranked opponents.
- Losses to Science & Arts in the regular season and Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament kept the Golden Eagles from earning an automatic berth in the national tournament. However, a Modified Ratings Percentage Index Rating of eighth helped earn JBU an at-large bid, as the Golden Eagles had the highest opponent win percentage of any team in the NAIA (0.688235).
- This marks the first Final Site appearance for John Brown in program history.
- The Golden Eagles are 10-0 when registering six or more shots on frame in a contest.
- John Brown has had 11 matches decided by one goal or less. They are 8-2-1 in those contests.
- Five different players have scored a postseason goal thus far for the Golden Eagles. Jastin Redman, Kristen Howell, and Siena Nealon have each found the back of the net twice in postseason play.
- Nealon netted the lone goal in John Brown's 1-0 win over Kansas Wesleyan in the Opening Round.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
SEU
Goals per Game: 5.14
Shots per Game: 24.52
Shots on Goal per Game: 12.57
Shutouts: 15
Individual Goals Leader:
Uchenna Kanu (52)
Individual Assists Leader:
Gabriella DiDio (20)
Individual Saves Leader:
Holly Eddins (77)
JBU
Goals per Game: 2.55
Shots per Game: 17.24
Shots on Goal per Game: 7.29
Shutouts: 13
Individual Goals Leader: Jastin Redman (11)
Individual Assists Leader: Aspen Carpenter (9)
Individual Saves Leader: Caitlyn Logan (64)
BELLI'S BRAIN:
"The previous match with John Brown University was so early in the season. Both of our teams have improved since then and we are looking forward to a challenging match. In a single-elimination tournament, you need to be the best team on that day, so we are focusing on ourselves and our preparation for our best performance,"
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Randy Belli Southeastern Head Coach.
Be sure to follow @SEUFireWSoccer on Twitter for all of the latest updates on Fire soccer.
