LAKELAND, Fla. -- A moment of persistence from the Fire's front line proved decisive as top-seeded and 15th-ranked Southeastern edged fourth-seeded St. Thomas 1–0 in the Sun Conference Semifinals on Saturday evening at the SEU Soccer Field. With the win, the Fire advance to the tournament championship and will host No. 3 Keiser on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Southeastern carried the run of play from the opening whistle, pressing the Bobcats deep into their defensive third and forcing goalkeeper Isabella Penaranda into a series of early stops.
Ariadna Lozano had several dangerous attempts turned away, while
Madelyn Davidson and
Olivia Hadad also tested Penaranda from distance. Despite controlling possession and firing seven shots in the opening half, the Fire were unable to break through before halftime.
The decisive moment arrived in the 70th minute and came from a chaotic sequence inside the penalty area. Midfielder
Sara Irurozki fired a shot from close range that rattled off the crossbar and bounced straight down into traffic. As several St. Thomas defenders converged to clear, Hadad reacted first, winning the battle for the rebound and delicately chipping her finish over the keeper to put Southeastern ahead 1–0. The goal marked Hadad's 10th of the season and Irurozki's eighth assist, extending both players' team-leading totals.
From there, Southeastern's back line and goalkeeper
Ella Sebree ensured the lead would stand. The Fire limited St. Thomas to just two shots on goal all night, and Sebree calmly handled both to collect her sixth shutout of the season. The SEU backline controlled the air and kept the Bobcats out of rhythm, even as the visitors pushed forward in the final ten minutes.
Lozano led the Fire with four total shots, while Hadad placed all three of hers on target. Southeastern ended the match with a 15–11 edge in total shots and a 10–2 margin in shots on goal, underscoring the home side's command.
Penaranda finished with nine saves for St. Thomas, whose frustration showed late with four yellow cards and a red card in the final minutes.
The victory lifted the Fire to 13–2–3 overall and extended their unbeaten streak to seven straight matches. SEU will now turn its focus to the Sun Conference Championship, hosting No. 3-ranked and second-seeded Keiser for the league title and an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship. The two top-15 programs will meet for the crown after splitting their two regular-season matchups—each team winning on the road. Kickoff is set for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the SEU Soccer Field.
