LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 6 Southeastern University women's soccer team is off to prolific start to the 2018 season. The Fire are 3-0 on the season, having outscored opponents 24-0. The Fire are coming off a 9-0 victory over Middle Georgia State and 12-0 handling of Point. The 12 goals netted versus PU were the most netted by SEU versus a non-conference NAIA opponent in program history. Southeastern now hits the road for a pair of NAIA Top 25 non-conference showdowns. The Fire take on No. 24 John Brown University and No. 13 Oklahoma Wesleyan.
GAMES:
No. 24 John Brown (3-0) vs. No. 6 Southeastern (3-0) Saturday 7:00 p.m.
No. 13 Oklahoma Wesleyan (0-0) vs. No. 6 Southeastern (3-0) 11:00 a.m.
COVERAGE:
WATCH:
John Brown Oklahoma Wesleyan
LIVE STATS:
John Brown Oklahoma Wesleyan
FIRE FOCUS:
- The Fire swept both Sun Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week this past week.
- Junior forward Uchenna Kanu was named Offensive Player of the Week after registering back-to-back four-goal games versus the Knights and Skyhawks. Kanu is averaging a goal per 11.7 minutes of play thus far.
- Senior defender Isamar Duran was named Defensive Player of the Week. Duran has helped anchor a dominant back line for Southeastern thus far. The Fire have held teams scoreless for the all 270 minutes of play this season and only allowed four total shots on frame this past week.
- The Fire had three different players post hat tricks versus Point, the first time this had occurred in program history. Redshirt-freshman forward Summer Rusher and graduate midfielder Gabriela DiDio joined Kanu in the recording the feat.
- SEU leads the NAIA in goals scored through the first two weeks of play. 62.5% of Fire shots in 2018 have been on frame.
BLAZING TRAILS:
- SEU is 13-2-1 on the road in the Randy Belli era.
- Six of those 13 wins have been shutouts.
- SEU has outscored opponents 61-16 on the road during that stretch.
THE GOLDEN EAGLES:
- JBU has posted six consecutive winning seasons and is looking to earn its way back to the NAIA Opening Round for the third straight season.
- Like Southeastern, John Brown has opened up the 2018 season with three shutouts.
- The Golden Eagles have won back-to-back 1-0 decisions, including a takedown of No. 10 Columbia.
- John Brown is surrendering just 3.3 shots on goal per contest.
- Senior forward Jastin Redman has netted two of the four JBU goals scored this season.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Caitlyn Logan has played all 270 minutes of clean defensive soccer for the Golden Eagles, recording 11 saves thus far.
THE EAGLES:
- OKWU earned its first ever berth in the NAIA National Tournament after claiming both the KCAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship. Oklahoma Wesleyan advanced to the NAIA Round of 16.
- After their season opener with No. 25 Hastings was postponed, the Eagles officially open up the 2018 slate versus Houston Victoria on Saturday night.
- OKWU ranked fifth in the NAIA in shutouts (15) and sixth in goals scored (85) last season.
- The Eagles return three players who netted 63 of their 85 (74.1%) goals last season.
- Forward Marjolen Nekesa netted 25 goals and record 14 assists, midfielder Taylor Gross scored 20 goals and registered five helpers, and forward Kaja Cremin found the back of the net 18 times and had a team leading 16 assists.
- Goalkeeper Sydney Vickers returns after posting a .888 save percentage in 2017.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
SEU
Goals per Game: 8
Shots per Game: 24
Shots on Goal per Game: 15
Shutouts: 3
Individual Goals Leader:
Uchenna Kanu (10)
Individual Assists Leader:
Uchenna Kanu (4)
Individual Saves Leader:
Holly Eddins (5)
JBU
Goals per Game: 1.3
Shots per Game: 12
Shots on Goal per Game: 5.3
Shutouts: 3
Individual Goals Leader: Jastin Redman (2)
Individual Assists Leader: Six Players (1)
Individual Saves Leader: Caitlyn Logan (11)
OKWU (2017)
Goals per Game: 3.7
Shots per Game: 20
Shots on Goal per Game: 10.1
Shutouts: 15
Returning Individual Goals Leader: Marjolen Nekesa (25)
Returning Individual Assists Leader: Kaja Cremin (16)
Returning Individual Saves Leader: Sydney Vickers (119)
BELLI'S BRAIN:
"This weekend opens a spell of three straight top 25 opponents on the road and it is exactly the kind of games that this team wants to play. John Brown and Oklahoma Wesleyan are top sides and we look forward to the challenge and the growth that will occur" – Head Coach
Randy Belli.
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