PULASKI, Tenn. – For the first time in its historic program history, the Martin Methodist Women's Soccer team has claimed the Southern States Athletic Conference regular-season championship.
The RedHawks (16-1, 6-1 SSAC) earned the crown after a 7-2 victory over Bethel (Tenn.) University Saturday afternoon at Grissom Pitch. The RedHawks needed help to capture the league title, however, but No. 11 University of Mobile (Ala.) upset No. 1 William Carey (Miss.) University, 4-1 to send the league into a three-way tie atop the standings.
With all three teams having beaten each other, the tiebreaker of goal differential (with a cap of three goals per match) came into play and lifted the RedHawks to the top spot in arguably the toughest Women's Soccer conference in the NAIA.
The day began with a convincing 7-2 victory for the RedHawks over the Lady Wildcats (11-5, 3-4).
The nation's top goalscorer, Millene Cabral, did not start the contest for the RedHawks but was subbed on midway through the first half and made an instant impact.
Cabral scored two goals just 52 seconds apart in the 29th and 30th minutes, respectively, to put the home side ahead by a pair. Cabral notched her eighth hat trick of the season 11 minutes later and put the RedHawks ahead by a 3-1 margin at halftime.
Cabral was not finished scoring, however, as she tallied three more goals in the second half to push her season total to a whopping 44 goals – eight more than the next highest goalscorer.
Miku Sunaga added a 52nd minute goal to cap the scoring for the RedHawks, who have now scored five or more goals on seven different occasions this season.
Despite the lopsided victory, the RedHawks still needed help if they were to ascend to the top spot in the league standings.
After last Saturday's 1-0 loss to then-No. 4 William Carey (Miss.) University, the RedHawks needed help from University of Mobile (Ala.) on Saturday night.
The Rams delivered the goals the RedHawks needed as they broke through for a 4-0 halftime lead and then closed the night with a 4-1 victory to stun the No. 1 ranked Crusaders.
With the title, the RedHawks earned the No. 1 seed in the SSAC Women's Soccer Championship, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 4, across four campus sites within the league.
The RedHawks will host No. 8 seed Brewton-Parker (Ga.) College at Grissom Pitch Saturday afternoon. Kickoff has been set for 1 p.m.
The RedHawks defeated the Barons (0-13-1, 0-7) by an 11-0 margin when the teams met at Grissom Pitch earlier this season.
