PENSACOLA, Fla. – The #4 nationally ranked University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer squad braved the chilly December night heating up the nets defeating previously unbeaten #5 Aquinas 3-1 in the NAIA Championship Third Round on Tuesday. UT Southern, the eleventh seed, got on the board first in the 55^th minute. A foul by the Saints just inside the 18-yard box. Hikaru Uchida froze the Aquinas keeper giving the Firehawks the lead.
Minutes later, the Saints, deep in the UTS end, launched a cross into the six-yard box. The score would remain tied for 42 seconds as the high potent Firehawk offense regained the lead. In the 58^th minute, Marina Nawa (Nao Katamoto assist) netted her 31^st goal and the fourth game winner on the season.
The Firehawks put the game out of reach in the 82^nd minute. Uchida would land a moon-shot set piece from 27 yards out. With the brace, Uchida has 14 two pointers on the year.
Keeper Stephanie Hodgson faced four AU shots recording four saves in the full time effort.
NAIA QUARTERFINAL SCORES (Seed)
(16) John Brown 2, (1) Cumberlands 1
(9) SCAD Savannah 1, (8) Spring Arbor 0
UC Merced 3, (4) Campbellsville 0
(5) College of Idaho 3, (12) Marian 2
(2) William Carey 2, Indiana Wesleyan 0
(7) Columbia 2, MidAmerica Nazarene 1
(3) Keiser 3, (14) Missouri Valley 2
(11) Tennessee Southern 3, (6) Aquinas 1
NAIA SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS (Seed)
Thursday, December 5
(16) John Brown vs. (9) SCAD Savannah 10 a.m.
UC Merced vs. (5) College of Idaho 1 p.m.
(2) William Carey vs. (7) Columbia 4 p.m.
(3) Keiser vs. (11) Tennessee Southern 7 p.m.
NEXT UP
The #4 UT Southern will clash with #2 Keiser in the NAIA Championship Quarterfinals on Thursday, December 5^th. The match is the second time the two squads have met this season. The Seahawks defeated the Firehawks 3-2 back on September 8^th in Foley, Ala. Kickoff is slated for seven p.m.
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