Box Score LAKELAND, Fla- The No. 6 Southeastern University women's soccer team made a powerful statement to open up the 2018 regular season, blanking No. 17 The Master's University Mustangs 3-0 at Polk State. This marks the fifth consecutive regular season opener the Fire have won and 24
th straight home victory.
"Master's is a quality side and there's a lot of things that we can take away from this game that they are going to make us better for. Anytime you can get that kind of result against a ranked team you'll be happy," shared head coach
Randy Belli.
The Fire quickly found their rhythm with a starting unit that featured four new pieces. In the first 25 minutes of play, the Fire outshot the Mustangs 6-1.
TMU displayed their rapid style of play and dedication to keeping fresh bodies on the field from the onset of the contest, making seven substitutions in the first 25 minutes of action.
The Fire broke the stalemate in the 33
rd minute. A familiar name echoed over the public address system as
Uchenna Kanu found the back of the net after beating a stampede of Mustangs in the final third and slotting it past the keeper on the left side to make it 1-0.
The Fire took the 1-0 lead over the Mustangs into the half. SEU outshot TMU 13-3 in the first 45 minutes of play.
Kanu did not take long to display how she set the single-season program record for goals scored last season (45). In the 49
th minute, the Abia, Nigeria native received a through ball on the left side of the pitch from junior midfielder
Bania Duran, finishing it far post to put the Fire ahead 2-0.
"I liked how the forwards knocked the balls around and helped the team build up play," commented Kanu.
Freshman goalkeeper
Holly Eddins made some clutch plays in her first collegiate game in net that kept TMU from trotting their way back into the contest, recording four of her five saves in the second half.
"If it wasn't for my back line being there for me and telling me 'we got this', I probably would not have been able to keep my composure as well," remarked Eddins.
The Fire sealed the contest in the 85
th minute when junior forward
Rachel Wallace played graduate forward
Yulie Lopez up the right wing. Lopez dribbled in the box and placed the ball near post to put Southeastern ahead of Master's 3-0.
The Fire are back in action at Polk State next Thursday versus Middle Georgia State at 4:00 p.m.
Be sure to follow @SEUFireWSoccer on Twitter for all of the latest updates on Fire Soccer.
