Fire Eye Playoff Clinch in Final Week of Regular Season

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The SEU Men's Soccer team enters the final week of the regular season with postseason implications on the line. The Fire travel to Warner on Saturday, October 25 at 7 p.m. in Lake Wales before closing the regular season at home for Senior Night on Wednesday, October 29 against St. Thomas at the SEU Soccer Field. Southeastern needs three points to clinch a berth in the Sun Conference Tournament and can finish anywhere from fourth to seventh depending on other league results.

Both matches will stream live on the Urban Edge Network app—available on smart TVs and mobile devices—and online at fire.seu.edu/watchUEN. Live statistics for each contest will be available at fire.seu.edu/sidearmstats/msoc/summary.

Balance, Resilience, and Road Toughness
Southeastern stands at 4-6-3 overall and 2-3-1 in Sun Conference play, fighting for a postseason appearance. The Fire have thrived away from home, going 4-2-1 on the road, and continue to show balance on both ends of the pitch. SEU ranks sixth in the Sun in scoring (1.77 goals/game), fifth in assists (1.31), and sits among the league's top three in shot-on-goal percentage (.514).

Defensively, the Fire have maintained a 1.54 goals-against average and a .726 save percentage, ranking fifth and fourth in the conference respectively.

Fire Control Their Destiny
With the top six teams qualifying for the 2025 Sun Conference Tournament, Southeastern currently sits in sixth place with seven points and controls its path to the postseason. A win over Warner would clinch a tournament berth, while additional points versus St. Thomas could boost seeding. At the top, St. Thomas (18 pts), Keiser (16), and SCAD Savannah (16) lead the pack, followed by New College (12) and Florida Memorial (10). Southeastern (7) holds the final spot ahead of Webber and Ave Maria (3 each) and Warner (0). 

Jman Dieng – The Finisher
Dieng leads Southeastern with six goals and two assists, totaling 14 points on the year. His .500 shot percentage and nine shots on goal highlight his precision around the box, ranking just outside the Sun's top ten in goals.

Carson Cajuste – The Spark
Cajuste ranks second on the team with four goals and eight total points. The freshman's .333 shot percentage and .667 accuracy rate make him one of SEU's most efficient scorers and a constant threat in transition.

Guilherme Viserta – The Creator
Viserta directs SEU's attack with six assists, tied for first in the Sun Conference, while also leading the Fire with 35 total shots and 17 on goal. His combination of vision and precision makes him the central playmaker in the midfield.

Fabio De Paula – The Engine
De Paula adds three goals and one assist across nine matches, ranking third on the team in scoring. His ten shots on goal and versatility in midfield provide vital two-way balance for SEU's system.

Adam Cooil – The Closer
Cooil sits tied for fourth on the roster with three goals, converting 30% of his shots and maintaining a .600 SOG rate. Known for clutch moments, he netted game-winners against Ave Maria and New College earlier this season.

Noah Murray-Hawkins – The Anchor
Murray-Hawkins ranks among the Sun's top three in GAA (1.22) and second in save percentage (.756). The junior keeper has made 34 saves, posted two shutouts, and been a steadying force in 810 minutes between the posts.

Searching for a Breakthrough
Warner enters the weekend at 0-14-1 overall and 0-6 in conference, still seeking its first win. The Royals have scored just nine goals while conceding 49, averaging 0.6 per match with a 7.1% shooting rate. Vlad Andersen and Filip Mo share the team lead with three goals and one assist each, while Mikey Melvin has recorded 77 saves and a .681 save percentage in goal.

SEU leads the all-time series 15-10-1, winning nine of the last ten and five straight meetings. The Fire swept last year's matchups with 4-1 and 2-0 victories, holding an 8-5 home record and 7-5-1 mark in Lake Wales since the first meeting in 2002.

Balanced, Battle-Tested, and Postseason Ready
St. Thomas enters the regular-season finale at 10-4-1 overall and 6-1 in the SUN, already locked into postseason play. The Bobcats average 2.80 goals per match while allowing just 1.27, backed by one of the most balanced attacks in the league. Tim Kreuzpeintner and Bouget Bouzis each have eight goals, while Thiago Patto adds seven goals and six assists for a team-best 20 points. Goalkeeper Sandro Cabral ranks among the Sun's best with a 1.13 GAA and .683 save rate.

St. Thomas has held the upper hand in recent meetings, with SEU going 0-8-2 in the last ten. The Fire fell 3-2 in Miami Gardens last year, but several matchups have been decided by one goal, reflecting a series that remains competitive despite the Bobcats' recent edge.