MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The #4 University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer team composed another stellar defensive performance in a 5-nil win over the University of Mobile in the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship on Thursday. The Firehawks held the fourth seed Rams to three shots in the SSAC Semifinal. UT Southern advances to the SSAC Championship match on Saturday, against another nationally ranked opponent in the form of #3 William Carey.
In the first half, the Firehawks dominated the pitch holding UM to zero shots. The Firehawks got on the board in the third minute with Kamilia Tayebi (First Team All-SSAC) finished the Miran Sakai (Second Team All-SSAC) pass. Marina Nawa (First Team All-SSAC) scored a brace in the span of four minutes and 21 seconds. Nawa's pair were assisted by Sakai and Keito Ido (SSAC Player of the Year). UTS led 14-0 in shots at the break.
In the final half, the Firehawks were able to play nearly all the rostered players with the game in control. UTS added two more goals to put the game further out of reach. SSAC Golden Boot winner, Maclani Michael netted the fourth goal of the match from the Nawa setup in the 53 minute. The final goal for the Firehawks was scored by Kendra Brungardt in the 79^th minute. Brungardt's strike was setup by Sharaid Palmeros-Solis. UTS held the lopsided advantage on the shot count 25-3 as well as shots on target 12-1.
Stephanie Hodgson (12-0-1) didn't face a shot working 60 minutes in the shared clean sheet. Petra Brncova worked 19 shotless minutes between the sticks. Abby Guy recorded the lone save working the final 12 minutes.
SSAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal Scores:
(#1 seed) #4 UT Southern def. (#4 seed) Mobile 5-nil
(#2 seed) #3 William Carey def. (#3 seed) #14 Life 3-nil
Championship Match
#4 UT Southern vs #3 William Carey, November 9^th, at four p.m.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will have a chance to sweep the conference championships for the season, facing #3 William Carey on Saturday. Kickoff is set for four p.m. at Emory Folmar YMCA Complex in Montgomery. This will be the second meeting of the SSAC titans. The previous meeting this season was in Pulaski resulting in a 2-2 tie.
TEAM SEASON RECORDS
GOALS - With the 5-nil result today, the Firehawks currently have 146 goals on the year. This places the 2024 squad tied for fifth in team goals scored with William Carey 2024, William Carey 2023 and Oklahoma Wesleyan 2022. The team record is in reach for both UTS and WCU. The current record is held by the 2003 Lindsey Wilson squad.
ASSISTS – With five assists in today's match, the 2024 Firehawks currently have 134 assists for the season. UTS currently ranks second all-time trailing the 1995 Lynn College squad that had 154 season assists.
 
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