WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It was a war of attrition at the home of the SUN Tournament top-seed, West Palm saw the one-seed Keiser and the four-seed Southeastern play through 110 minutes, with the Seahawks earning a 4-3 decision in penalty kicks.
Despite being outshot 22-5, the Fire held Keiser scoreless through regulation and two overtime periods behind a seven-save performance from Noah Murray-Hawkins.
Keiser applied pressure early, forcing Murray-Hawkins into four first-half saves. The Fire goalkeeper turned away a header from Francis Bolland in the 11th minute before denying Joao Loureiro in the 18th.
Southeastern created two of its best opportunities midway through the opening half. Lazar Ziric tested Keiser goalkeeper Juan Saldarriaga in the 24th minute, and Koren Klein followed with another shot on goal in the 28th, but both attempts were saved.
The Seahawks continued to threaten before halftime, with Murray-Hawkins stopping Ian Garnero's header in the 39th minute and Mohammed Mouzoune's attempt in the 42nd to preserve the scoreless tie.
Southeastern came out of the break looking to break through, with Thomas Hardouin sending an attempt wide in the 47th minute and Andrea Terraciano following with another shot in the 49th.
Keiser nearly found the opening goal in the 53rd minute when Mouzoune struck the crossbar. The Seahawks maintained their offensive pressure throughout the second half, but Murray-Hawkins came up with two more saves, denying Gabi Villafane in the 59th minute and Mouzoune in the 70th.
Tomas Gomes recorded Southeastern's final shot of the afternoon in the 67th minute, sending his attempt high as the Fire continued searching for a breakthrough.
Southeastern survived a scare with 11 minutes to go in regulation, as the Seahawks found the back of the net, but the goal was reversed due to an offside call.
Neither side found the back of the net during regulation, sending the contest into overtime.
Keiser controlled the opportunities during the first extra period, recording four shots. Murray-Hawkins made his seventh save of the afternoon in the 100th minute, turning away another attempt from Mouzoune to keep Southeastern alive.
The Seahawks managed one additional shot in the second overtime, while Southeastern earned a corner kick in the 106th minute. Neither team could produce a winner, sending the contest to a penalty kick shootout.
Gomes opened the shootout by converting Southeastern's first attempt, but Keiser's Ian Garnero answered to even the score.
After Adam Cooil's attempt was saved, Raul Cedillo converted for the Seahawks to give Keiser the advantage.
Klein responded by converting Southeastern's third kick, but Xabi Souto kept Keiser ahead with another successful attempt.
Guilherme Viserta converted the Fire's fourth penalty, while Mikael Baisotti answered for the Seahawks, giving Keiser a 4-3 lead entering Southeastern's final attempt.
JP Quaresma's shot was turned aside, allowing Keiser to secure the shootout victory.
Murray-Hawkins finished with seven saves across the full 110 minutes, recording a shutout in regulation and overtime. The Fire defense held firm despite Keiser's 22 shots, including seven on goal.
Klein and Ziric accounted for Southeastern's two shots on target, while Gomes, Hardouin and Terraciano each recorded an additional attempt.
Keiser held a 10-2 advantage in corner kicks, while Saldarriaga finished with two saves for the Seahawks.
The 2026 season coming to an end marks a very strong bounce back season from the previous year. Earning first-year head coach Gabriel Sitibaldi a 10-win season and the team a return to the Sun Conference Semifinals.
