Fire Set to Battle Lady Crusaders for Place in NAIA Final

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – For the second consecutive match, the Fire totaled three second-half goals after being deadlocked 0-0 with their opponent at the half. Sixth-seeded Southeastern defeated the Midland University Warriors 3-1 in their NAIA Quarterfinal match to advance to the 2018 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Semifinals. This marks the farthest the Fire have ever advanced in the NAIA postseason. SEU is one win away from playing in the national title match. Standing in Southeastern's path is the second-seeded William Carey University Lady Crusaders.

The NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Semifinal:
No. 6 Seed Southeastern (20-1-2) vs. No. 2 Seed William Carey University (19-3) Friday 4:00 p.m. EDT

COVERAGE:
WATCH (FEES APPLY)
LIVE STATS

FIRE FOCUS:

• Uchenna Kanu posted her 11^th hat trick of the season last night, netting all three Fire goals in the victory.
• The 132 points recorded by Kanu is the second most by a collegiate women's soccer player ever and the most since 2002. The 57 goals scored by the Abia, Nigeria native is the third most in a single-season in women's collegiate soccer history.
• Kanu is just the fourth collegiate women's soccer player to ever score 50 or more goals in a single-season.
• Graduate forward Yulie Lopez has registered a point in every NAIA postseason match for the Fire thus far, totaling two goals and three assists during that stretch.
• The Midland goal in the 82^nd minute last night snapped a 371 minute scoreless streak held by Southeastern.
• Lopez, freshman center back Gabriela Labrador, and senior midfielder Lynsey Kelly are the only three players for SEU to have played full-90 matches in every contest this NAIA postseason.
• Freshman goalkeeper Holly Eddins is 15-16 in save opportunities in the National Tournament.

POSTSEASON POWER

• SEU is 12-1-2 in the postseason all-time under head coach Randy Belli's guidance.
• The Fire have outscored opponents 55-12 in those matches.
• Kanu has 24 postseason goals all-time.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

• This marks the second ever meeting between the Fire and the Lady Crusaders.
• William Carey defeated Southeastern 2-0 in the NAIA Quarterfinal last season.

THE LADY CRUSADERS:

• William Carey earned a place in the semifinal match with a 1-0 win over tenth-seeded Lindsey Wilson.
• Senior forward Jamie Holifield netted the lone goal in the 66^th minute. Holifield is one of four Lady Crusaders to have netted 12 or more goals this season.
• Senior midfielder Shantell Thompson has recorded a point in every NAIA postseason match, registering two goals and three assists during that stretch.
• Senior goalkeeper Abby Baravik has been 9-9 in save opportunities at the Final Site.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

SEU
Goals per Game: 4.96
Shots per Game: 24.1
Shots on Goal per Game: 12.48
Shutouts: 16
Individual Goals Leader: Uchenna Kanu (57)
Individual Assists Leader: Gabriella DiDio (20)
Individual Saves Leader: Holly Eddins (84)
 
WCU
Goals per Game: 4.05
Shots per Game: 22.14
Shots on Goal per Game: 11.27
Shutouts: 11
Individual Goals Leader: Ana Paula Santos (19)
Individual Assists Leader: Three tied (8)
Individual Saves Leader: Abby Baravik (58)
 
BELLI'S BRAIN:
 
"All of the Final Four teams are top quality sides. Our team is grateful to be on this journey and excited to have this platform to play for His Renown,"
-Randy Belli Southeastern Head Coach.
 
Be sure to follow @SEUFireWSoccer on Twitter for all of the latest updates on the Fire from Orange Beach.