Foley, Ala.  – [Final Site Schedule] [Bracket] After a delay of the semifinal games that were supposed to be played on Saturday, we now know who will be in the 2023 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Match tomorrow, Tuesday, December 5 in Foley, Ala. Top-seeded William Carey (Miss.) went down early to the 12-seeded UT Southern, but stormed back in the second half, showing the fans in attendance why they lead the country in goals scored this season. While on the other side of the bracket, we have a first-time title game attendee in Cumberlands (Ky.) after they grinded out a win over the defending champions.

GAME NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS

No. 1 William Carey (Miss.) def. No. 12 Tennessee Southern, 7-3

• The first 13 minutes of play to open the semifinal rounds had both William Carey (Miss.) and Tennessee Southern settling in after having not played for three days due to weather conditions.
• The Firehawks earned a dangerous free kick just inches outside the 18-yard box in the 13^th minute but were unable to convert on the opportunity.
• Miran Sakai was called upon to take the set piece for UT Southern and she was able to bury it in the back of the net, as she beat the diving Crusaders goalkeeper.
• The Firehawks found the net again in the 19^th minute as Nao Katamoto found the side netting for the 2-0 lead.
• William Carey (Miss.) answered in the 20^th minute, cutting the margin to one as Christina Salmon connected with Mariangela Jimenez.
• The Crusaders battled back into this game in the 25^th minute as Jimenez found Fernanda Pena Nieto to tie this game up at 2-2.
• William Carey earned the first penalty kick of the tournament in the 25^th minute after UT Southern fouled a Crusader in the box, Virginia Mesa stepped to the line and converted for the 3-2 lead.
• Tennessee Southern had a good opportunity to bring the match back level in the 31^st minute off a corner kick, but Marlen Kelm for the Crusaders was able to track the shot through traffic and make the save.
• Salmon had the chance to put the Crusaders up by two in the 48^th minute, but the Firehawks goalkeeper Layken Stockstill came up with a huge point-blank save to keep the margin at one.
• William Carey had back-to-back chances on goal with Pena Nieto’s shot and a shot from Karen Vilau, but the Firehawks put their bodies on the line to keep the margin at 3-2.
• Vilau connected with Salmon in the 66^th minute for the fourth goal of the game, while Alexis Arnoult had another goal of her own in the 67^th minute to put the Crusaders ahead 5-2.
• Mariangela Jimenez and Salmon put away the sixth goal of this game in the 70^th minute.
• The Crusaders did not let up late in the game as WCU tallied their seventh goal off the foot of Alexis Arnoult and assisted by Kristina Decker.
• UT Southern answered late in the 85^th minute of this semifinal game as Marina Nawa took the set piece and found Miran Sakai for the Firehawk’s third goal.

No. 3 Cumberlands (Ky.) def. No. 2 Spring Arbor (Mich.), 2-0

• Once again as both teams looked to settle in early after extended rest due to weather, Spring Arbor (Mich.) had a good look in the eighth minute from Lauren Moellering, but Georgia Martell, Cumberlands (Ky.) goalkeeper was there to make the save.
• The Patriots broke this game open in the 31^st minute on a free kick where Olaya Blanco sent the ball into the box, Carola Fontan headed it over to Rita Aguye who scored for the 1-0 lead.
• The Goal by Cumberlands was also their first shot of the game.
• Nicole Araujo somehow got a shot off in traffic at the 37-minute mark of the game, but Blair Currie was there to make her first save of the day.
• SAU had two good looks on goal in the 59^th and 63^rd minutes but could not convert as they still trailed 1-0.
• Cumberlands (Ky.) had another good look on goal in the 67^th minute but was hit directly to the waiting Cougars goalkeeper Blair Currie.
• The Patriots doubled their lead in the 83^rd minute on a counterattack with Nicole Araujo cleaning up the rebound to give Cumberlands (Ky.) the 2-0 advantage.
• With the 2-0 win over Spring Arbor (Mich.), this marks a historic day for Cumberlands (Ky.) women’s soccer as it is the first time in program history the Patriots have made the title game.

COVERAGE

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