LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 6 Southeastern University women's soccer team made a powerful opening statement to the 2018 regular season. The Fire were poised in a 3-0 shutout versus No. 17 The Master's University. This marked the fifth straight season opener won by SEU and the fourth shutout in the
Randy Belli-era versus an NAIA ranked opponent. The Fire continue the opening stretch of play with a pair of home matches this week at Polk State versus Middle Georgia State University and Point University.
GAMES:
No. 6 Southeastern (1-0) vs. Middle Georgia State (0-1) | Thursday 4:00 p.m.
No. 6 Southeastern (1-0) vs. Point (1-0) | Saturday 11:00 a.m.
COVERAGE:
WATCH
LIVE STATS
FIRE FOCUS:
- Junior forward Uchenna Kanu picked right up where she left off in 2017, netting the first two goals of the season for the Fire in the win versus Master's. Kanu now has scored 60 goals and registered 134 points during her 32-match career at Southeastern.
- The new-look back line for Southeastern excelled in the season opener. Senior defender Isamar Duran played her first career game for Southeastern at center back while true freshman Gabriela Labrador held down the other center back position. The Fire only allowed three first-half shots versus the Mustangs.
- Another true freshman, Holly Eddins, made an impact for SEU in her collegiate debut. The goalkeeper registered five saves, four of which came in the second half.
HOME COOKIN:
- The Fire have won 24 consecutive home matches.
- 18 of those 24 consecutive home victories have been shutouts.
- SEU has outscored opponents 100-7 during the streak.
MIDDLE GEORGIA:
- The Knights travel to Lakeland after last season's trip was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. Middle Georgia posted an 8-8 record in 2017.
- Middle Georgia was picked to finish fifth in the Southern States Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.
- The Master's ranked 18th in the NAIA in total assists last season with 51.
- The Knights only return two of their 34 goals scored last season.
- The new-look Middle Georgia team features 20 freshman and only three upperclassmen.
- The Knights bring in a pair of transfers from Central Methodist who look to bring experience to this year's team. Senior midfielder Sophie Reynolds appeared in 19 games last year for CMU while senior goalkeeper Ronja Andersson was 2-0-1 in four starts.
- MGSU fell 1-0 to SCAD in their season opener.
POINT:
- The Skyhawks are coming off an 8-12 2017 season.
- PU was picked to finish sixth in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.
- SEU defeated Point 5-0 in its season opener last season.
- Point returns leading goal scorer from 2017 Sabrina Marquez. The junior midfielder found the back of the net 12 times last season.
- Marquez also netted a goal in the Skyhawks' 2018 2-0 season-opening win over Faulkner. Freshman forward Kelly Carlisle scored the other goal in her first collegiate match.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
SEU
Goals per Game: 3
Shots per Game: 20
Shots on Goal per Game: 11
Shutouts: 1
Individual Goals Leader:
Uchenna Kanu (2)
Individual Assists Leader: Tied Three (1)
Individual Saves Leader:
Holly Eddins (5)
Middle Georgia
Goals per Game: 0
Shots per Game: 5
Shots on Goal per Game: 3
Shutouts: 0
Individual Goals Leader: N/A
Individual Assists Leader: N/A
Individual Saves Leader: Ronja Andersson (7)
Point
Goals per Game: 2
Shots per Game: 10
Shots on Goal per Game: 3
Shutouts: 1
Individual Goals Leader: Tied Two (1)
Individual Assists Leader: Jessica Torres (1)
Individual Saves Leader: Rachel Ash (2)
Be sure to follow @SEUFireWSoccer on Twitter for all of the latest updates on Fire soccer.
