SEU Women's Soccer hits the road midweek for one of its toughest challenges of the season before returning home to close out the week. The Fire are set to face top-ranked Keiser University on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in West Palm Beach, then return to Lakeland for a Saturday night matchup against New College of Florida at 7 p.m. on the SEU Soccer Field.
Stream the Sparks
Both matches will stream live on the Urban Edge Network through the Fire Athletics website at
fire.seu.edu/watchUEN, with the UEN app also available on Smart TVs and mobile devices. Live stats can be accessed at
fire.seu.edu/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary.
Numbers That Burn Bright
The Fire enter the week with an overall record of 8-2-2 and a 3-1 mark in Sun Conference play, holding a .750 winning percentage in both categories. Southeastern has won two straight matches and will look to keep its momentum rolling as the conference standings tighten heading into the second half of October. SEU has been among the most balanced and consistent teams in the league, showing efficiency on both ends of the field and finding ways to generate scoring depth across the lineup.
Offensively, Southeastern ranks second in the Sun Conference in both goals per game (2.67) and assists per game (1.83), showcasing an attack that averages more than 21 shots per contest while converting better than 54 percent of those attempts on goal.
Defensively, the Fire have limited opponents to just one goal per game, ranking fifth in the league in goals-against average. With strong goalkeeping and a compact back line, SEU has allowed fewer than eight total shots on target per match while maintaining one of the conference's most disciplined defensive shapes.
History Ignites the Future
SEU enters the week with a long track record of consistency, holding an all-time record of 282-134-21 (.669). The Fire have been dominant at home with a .714 winning percentage (133-50-11) and continue to perform well on the road at .654 (121-62-8). October has traditionally been one of SEU's strongest months, with a 111-58-9 (.649) mark overall, including a .705 home record during the month.
The Fire will aim to improve on a difficult history in West Palm Beach (1-11-1 all-time) when facing Keiser before returning to Lakeland, where SEU has gone 134-49-11 on its home field. The team has thrived in both Wednesday (.746) and Saturday (.702) contests over the years, and with both matchups falling on those days this week.
Fire in the Hunt
With just four matches remaining in the regular season, Southeastern sits in a strong position to secure another postseason berth as the Sun Conference race enters its final stretch. The Fire currently stand second in the standings at 3-1 (.750), level on points with top-ranked Keiser but trailing on tiebreakers. The top six teams qualify for the Sun Conference Tournament, with the top two seeds earning byes into the semifinals while the third and fourth seeds host quarterfinal matches.
Behind SEU, a tight three-way battle is unfolding among St. Thomas, SCAD Savannah, and New College of Florida, who each sit at 2-1-1 (7 points). Warner (4 points) and Florida Memorial (3 points) remain in contention for the final postseason spot.
Irurozki Ignites
Sara Irurozki remains one of the most dynamic scorers in the Sun Conference, entering the week tied for fourth in the league with eight goals. Her 19 total points rank fifth among all Sun players. Irurozki has scored in seven different matches and provided three assists, continuing to deliver efficient production with a .250 shooting percentage and more than half her attempts landing on frame. She's also converted two game-winners this fall, setting the tone for a balanced Fire attack.
Ari in Action
Ariadna Lozano has given Southeastern another consistent scoring option, ranking second on the team with six goals and two assists. The forward has showcased her ability to create chances in tight spaces and finish with composure, tallying 14 total points on the year.
Hadad Handles Business
Olivia Hadad has quietly emerged as a key piece of the Fire's offensive rhythm, contributing five goals and an assist while appearing in all 12 matches. Her finishing touch has produced several momentum-shifting goals in conference play.
Banker's Balance
In the center of the park,
Grace Banker has continued to anchor SEU's transition game while adding four goals of her own. Her two game-winners are tied for the team lead, and her defensive awareness has been just as valuable — providing balance to an offense that averages more than 18 shots per game.
Garcia's Vision
Carmen Garcia Llanes ranks among the Sun Conference's top assist leaders, sitting tied for fifth overall with five helpers on the season. Her precision service from the midfield and on set pieces has been a major factor in SEU's offensive flow, as she continues to orchestrate scoring opportunities through vision and distribution.
Safe Hands, Steady Diaz
In goal,
Sofia Diaz continues to shine as one of the top keepers in the Sun Conference, ranking third in goals-against average (0.92) and fifth in save percentage (.760). The sophomore has posted a 5-1-1 record with three shutouts, demonstrating steady command of the back line and quick reaction in critical moments.
Clash with the Kings
Top-ranked Keiser University enters the week as the defending NAIA national champion and the current standard in the Sun Conference. The Seahawks are 11-1 overall and 3-0 in league play, boasting one of the most complete rosters in the country with depth across all lines. Keiser averages 3.67 goals per game while conceding just 0.50, outshooting opponents by nearly 18 attempts per match.
The attack is led by Lauren Riley, who ranks among the national leaders with nine goals and seven assists for 25 points, alongside Maria Vilhena (8 goals, 6 assists) and Blanca Bächi (8 goals, 4 assists). Keeper Mio Tanaka anchors the defensive unit with a 0.60 goals-against average and .769 save percentage, guiding a group that has allowed just six goals through 12 contests.
Southeastern and Keiser share one of the Sun Conference's oldest rivalries, with the Seahawks leading the all-time series 20-3-4 since 2015. The Fire's last win came in 2023, a 2-0 home result that snapped a long Keiser streak, though the Seahawks have since taken the last five meetings, including a 4-1 decision earlier this season in Lakeland. SEU has fared better on home turf (2-6-3) than on the road (1-13-1), but will aim to rewrite that narrative Wednesday in West Palm Beach, where the Fire are 1-11-1 all-time. Across the series, Southeastern has scored 28 goals to Keiser's 77, averaging 1.04 per match while conceding 2.85.
Banyan Rising
In just its second season of Sun Conference competition, New College of Florida has continued to grow under a young and developing roster. The Mighty Banyans enter the week at 2-8-1 overall and 2-1-1 in league play, with recent results showing marked improvement. New College earned conference victories with a 2-0 win over Warner and a 4-3 road victory at Webber International, followed by a 1-1 draw at SCAD Savannah last weekend.
Offensively, Naomi Woerner has been the primary scoring threat with four goals on eight shots, while goalkeeper Avaya Wright has made 56 saves in nine appearances. Despite being outshot on the season, the Mighty Banyans have shown resilience, staying competitive in nearly every recent outing.
Southeastern holds a 2-0-0 all-time record against New College, with both wins coming on the road. The Fire earned a 2-1 victory last October in Sarasota before following with a 1-0 result earlier this season. SEU has outscored the Banyans 3-1 in the series while allowing just one goal across 180 minutes of play. Saturday's meeting marks the first time the two sides will face off in Lakeland, where Southeastern will look to extend its perfect record against one of the Sun Conference's newest and most rapidly improving programs.
Finishing the Flame
Southeastern will wrap up the regular season with a pair of late-October matchups that will have major implications on Sun Conference tournament seeding. The Fire return home on Saturday, October 25, for a 7 p.m. kickoff against Warner University at the SEU Soccer Field — their final regular-season home appearance. The Fire will then close out conference play on the road at St. Thomas University on Wednesday, October 29, in Miami Gardens. With postseason positioning likely to come down to the final week, Southeastern's ability to finish strong could determine whether the Fire earn a first-round bye or host a quarterfinal in the Sun Conference Tournament.
