Fire Poised for Rematch with Racers in NAIA Quarterfinals

ORANGE BEACH, Ala.- Less than 24 hours after an impressive 5-1 victory over No. 11 Seed Vanguard in the NAIA National Championship Round of 16, the No. 6 Seed Southeastern University women's soccer team will compete against a former national champion and familiar face in the National Quarterfinals. The Fire take on No. 3 Seed Northwestern Ohio this evening, as they look to take another step closer to a national championship.

MATCH:

NAIA National Championship Quarterfinals | Wednesday | 7:30 p.m. ET | Orange Beach, Ala.
No. 6 Southeastern (18-4) vs. No. 3 Northwestern Ohio (21-1)

COVERAGE:

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FIRE FOCUS:

• Graduate forward Yulie Lopez notched a first-half hat trick for the Fire against Vanguard last night, netting goals in the 16^th, 26^th, and 45^th minutes. Lopez became the second player in program history to record a hat trick in the NAIA postseason, as Kanu accomplished the feat last season versus Midland.
• The first goal on the night for Lopez was her first since September 28 against Ave Maria.
• With her score in the 75^th minute, senior forward Uchenna Kanu notched her third-straight season of 40 or more goals netted. She also set a new single-season personal best in assists with her 18^th and 19^th helpers of the year versus VU.
• Southeastern is making its third-straight and third all-time appearance in the NAIA Quarterfinals.
• Senior midfielder Bania Duran has now netted 11 goals over her last nine outings.
• SEU is now 14-3-2 in the postseason all-time under head coach Randy Belli's guidance.
• The Fire have outscored opponents 70-23 in those matches.
• Kanu has 28 postseason goals all-time in 19 career postseason appearances.

PREVIOUS MEETING:

• The Fire and the Racers squared off earlier this season at the SEU Soccer Complex, where UNOH defeated SEU 1-0.
• This was the only time Southeastern was shut out this season.
• Senior forward Kate Aygemang netted the lone goal of the match off a free kick.

THE RACERS:

• Northwestern Ohio defeated Grace College 3-0 yesterday afternoon to advance to the NAIA Quarterfinals for the fifth time in the last six years.
• The Racers enter the contest against the Fire not having conceded a goal in 384 straight minutes of play.
• Aygemang leads UNOH in goals (18) and assists (12), having recorded one of each thus far in the national tournament.
• Freshman forward Olga Massombo has netted three goals and dished out four assists over her last five games played.
• Freshman goalkeeper Lisa Venrath has only had to face a total of eight shots on goal throughout her four-straight full-90 shutouts.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

SEU
Goals per Game: 4.7
Shots per Game: 20.7
Shots on Goal per Game: 11.1
Shutouts: 6
Individual Goals Leader: Uchenna Kanu (40)
Individual Assists Leader: Uchenna Kanu (19)
Individual Saves Leader: Holly Eddins (72)
 
UNOH
Goals per Game: 3.5
Shots per Game: 21.4
Shots on Goal per Game: 10.9
Shutouts: 14
Individual Goals Leader: Kate Agyemang (18)
Individual Assists Leader: Kate Agyemang (12)
Individual Saves Leader: Lisa Venrath (46)

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