LAKELAND, Fla.—On a hot Saturday afternoon at home, the Fire women's soccer team learned it was capable of playing with just about anyone this season.
That was the day Southeastern overcame a two-goal second half deficit to the two-time defending national runners-up in William Carey and won 5-4 to jump into the NAIA Coaches' Top 10.
It was the marquee win of a 14-4-2 season that featured 10 games against Top 25 teams.
Southeastern was 2-0 heading into the game against No. 2 William Carey after convincing wins at Olivet Nazarene and Trinity Christian.
Naira Lopez tied the game against the Crusaders at 1-1 with her fourth goal in three games off of a free kick in the 23
rd minute. Ten minutes later, the Crusaders took the lead and made it 3-1 in their favor in the 64
th minute.
Jennifer Luna responded with goals off set pieces in the 68
th and 73
rd minutes to tie the game 3-3. Julia Herbst made it 4-3 Carey in the 77
th, but just a minute later
Ramsey Watkins scored on a pass from
Nanako Omae to tie it. Omae scored with just 2:25 to play as Watkins returned the favor with a cross from the left side for the game winner.
"There's a little bit of concern in the coach's heart but the players knew they had it in them," said Coach
Caleb Roberts of the two-goal deficit. "It's a testament to the group of girls in the locker room they knew they could play together and find a way to win."
The Fire came away with a one-goal win in soggy conditions against Middle Georgia State, then came away with a 1-1 draw against No. 23 Grace in steady rains in a game where the Lancers picked up the equalizer with less than 30 seconds to play.
Southeastern dropped their first game of the season to No. 5 Cumberlands in Williamsburg, 3-1 but bounced back with a 4-1 win at No. 24 Campbellsville two days later.
A 2-0 win over No. 23 Georgia Gwinnett in the first game after Hurricane Ian got the Fire ready for a 6-1-1 season in The Sun Conference, which was as strong as it had ever been with three teams ranked inside the Top 15.
The highlight of the conference season was a 4-0 victory over No. 12 SCAD in a game that helped SEU lock up a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
Southeastern again had to face SCAD in the semifinal round of the conference tournament in Lakeland, battling wind and rains on the front edge of Tropical Storm Nicole. Luna scored in the 15
th minute on a set piece and
Ariadna Lozano added the fifth goal of her freshman season in the 35
th minute to give the Fire the advantage.
For the fifth time in program history, Southeastern was selected as a first and second round host site for the NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament. There were plenty of familiar faces as the Fire first played Georgia Gwinnett and came away with a 4-0 win, scoring twice on penalty kicks. Southeastern then saw Westmont in the second round, which hosted the Fire last year in the national tournament. The lone tally in the contest came in the 62
nd minute by the Warriors to end the SEU season.
Seven players earned All-Sun Conference recognition, led by Lopez on the first team with a team-high 11 goals and added five assists. Five of her goals were game winners.
Lozano, Luna, and
Karissa King earned second team honors and
Chanel Garcia,
Mason Schilling, and Watkins were honorable mention. Lozano finished second on the team in goals with seven, and King added 13 points with four goals and five assists.
