Foley, AL – The third-seed UC women's soccer team tallied their eighth shutout of the season, while scoring a goal in each half to earn the 2-0 win over OUAZ in the round of 16 of the NAIA National Tournament Tuesday night. With the win, the Patriots advance to the quarterfinals of the NAIA tournament for the third time in the last four years on Thursday, November 30.
Carola Fontan and
Noah Paalman each tallied goals for the Patriots as UC finished with nine shots on frame. Four Patriots tallied multiple shots in the match. Defensively,
Georgia Martell made four saves, while UC's backline of
Amy Anderson,
Rita Aguye Cots, and
Camryn Broz limited the Spirit to four shots on frame.
OUAZ tallied the first shot in the 8' however Martell was there for the save to keep the match scoreless. Minutes later the Patriots pushed the ball up the field as
Jayden Boelter pushed the ball over to Fontan just outside the 18-yard box. The sophomore controlled the ball with her body before sending a laser into the upper 90 of the goal to give Cumberlands the 1-0 advantage. It was Fontan's third goal of the NAIA Tournament. Moments later, OUAZ looked for the equalizer as the shot ricochet off the crossbar. Martell added a pair of saves over the next eight minutes to keep UC in front 1-0. UC closed out the half with three shots and corner kick in the final five minutes but couldn't convert keeping the 1-0 advantage at the break.
Cumberlands took control of the possession early in the second half placing two shots on frame however the Spirits' keeper made the save. The two teams traded possession over the next 15 minutes with neither able to convert. UC remained in front 1-0 until the 85' when Paalman beat one defeating before taking two dribbles in the box before firing a shot into the upper corner of the net to make it 2-0. It was the sophomore's third goal of the season as she now has a career-high 11 points on the year. OUAZ recorded two shots in the final five minutes however, neither was on frame as the Patriots earned the 2-0 final.
UC advances to the quarterfinals where they'll face the winner of Cumberland and Hope International on Thursday. The match is slated to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
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