WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- In one of the most highly-touted NAIA match-ups of the season, the No. 4 Southeastern University women's soccer team came up just short in The Sun Conference Game of the Week to the No. 1 Keiser University Seahawks 2-1. The loss is the first of the year for the Fire in Sun Conference play.
"Obviously you never want to lose a game but I thought it was a great example of Sun Conference football," shared SEU head coach
Randy Belli.
Both teams battled back and forth throughout the first 45 minutes of action. Despite being out-shot 8-2 in the first half, the Fire stood tall. This was due largely in fact to the play of sophomore goalkeeper
Holly Eddins, who recorded all four of her saves in the first half to keep the Seahawks off the score sheet.
The Fire and the Seahawks went into the half scoreless.
SEU broke through in the second half thanks to a misplayed ball by a Keiser defender that got past keeper Nina Haeberlin in the 50
th minute.
Keiser quickly tied things up 1-1 in the 52
nd minute thanks to a goal by Madeleine Berghult.
The Seahawks then earned the go-ahead score in the 76
th minute off the foot of Kyoka Koshijima to take the 2-1 lead.
"It was 1-1 till late and they snuck one by us," commented Coach Belli. "I think both teams had some really good chances that went missing and credit to Keiser for putting them away."
The Fire battled hard till the Final whistle, with a shot by senior defender
Siobhan Longmore just elevating above the crossbar in the 87
th minute.
Southeastern is just the fourth side this season to find the back of the net against Keiser.
Southeastern looks to bounce back in Sun Conference play this Saturday at the SEU Soccer Complex against Florida Memorial on Senior Night. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.
