KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The #4 University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer team will make their 21st consecutive appearance in the NAIA Championship hosting a second round match on Saturday, November 23. UT Southern will battle The Master's at Grissom Pitch with a trip to Pensacola, Fla., on the line.
#4 UT Southern touts a 17-2-1 record on the season with one of the strongest resumes in the tournament field. UTS' blemishes were a 3-2 loss to #2 Keiser and a 3-1 loss to #3 William Carey in the SSAC Championship match. The Firehawks also played the Crusaders to a 2-2 draw in Pulaski earlier this season.
UTS is one of seven teams with 17 or more wins this season, and the Firehawks are the only team in the field to have 20+ appearances.
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
The Championship format has some changes this year. In previous years, teams that made it to the final site were seeded based on their final national ranking. This year, the participants were plugged into a 40 team bracket that will cover from the first round to the championship game.
This year the final site has been moved to Pensacola, Fla., to the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex.
UT SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP EXCELLENCE
The Firehawks have been a staple in the NAIA Championship since 2004. UTS won the 2021 crown in PKs over William Carey, and UTS, then known as Martin Methodist College, took the 2005 and 2007 titles.
The 2021 squad etched their name in the record book netting 27 goals, the most goals by a team in tournament play. They also recorded the most assists with 25 and most corner kicks with 35 during the 2021 National Title season.
Individually, Keito Ido and Estelle Badodana Ekada each netted eight goals during the 2021 run to the crown.
The Firehawks have a NAIA Championship Record of 35-17-7 in 59 matches, including three titles and four third place finishes.
Coach Will Austin sports a 15-5-4 (.708) record during tournament play in eight appearances.
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND
Saturday's match will be the first meeting between the Firehawks and the Mustangs.
UTS (17-2-1) was the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season champion and SSAC tournament runner-up. UTS ranks second in goals scored with 147. The Firehawks lead the nation with 136 assists.
The Master's (15-4-1) was the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season and tournament runners-up. TMU ranks 29^th in goals scored with 60 for the year. The Mustangs have recorded 39 assists.
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