Foley, AL – The third-seed University of the Cumberlands came into the championship match without surrendering a goal and the Patriots produced another stellar defensive performance to earn a 1-1 tie before ultimately capturing the victory in penalty kicks 3-2 to capture the 2023 NAIA National Championship Tuesday afternoon. The Patriots, who finished the year 18-1-3, captured the first NAIA National Championship in Cumberlands school history.
Georgia Martell made a career-high and Patriots NAIA tournament record 18 saves. The Brisbane, Australia native made seven saves in the first half, which tied her 2023 season-high coming into the game, while adding nine saves in the second half. The 18 saves by the junior are the second most in program history and the most saves by a Patriots goalie in a victory.
Laura Vogt came in and made a pair of saves during the penalty shootout.
Laura Bosca netted the Patriots goal in the first half.
William Carey came out firing as Christian Salmon put a shot on frame 22 seconds into the match, however, Martell was there for the save.
Jayden Boelter tallied the Patriots first shot of the game in the 5' as it sailed over the crossbar. The Crusaders notched three shots and corner kick over the next five minutes, however, Martell added a pair of saves to keep the match scoreless. The two teams traded possession over the next ten minutes as Martell notched two more saves the second of which came in the 25'. UC ran a counter attack as
Carola Fontan put a shot on frame which was saved and set up a Patriots corner kick. Fontan sent the corner kick into the box and it was clear away to Bosca, who sent a line drive the deflected off the post before going into the net to give the Patriots a 1-0 advantage. William Carey added six shots over the final 20 minutes of the first half but Cumberlands took the 1-0 lead into the break.
The Crusaders (23-1) looked for the equalizer in the second half putting two shots on frame in the first five minutes, however, Martell once again came up with the save. William Carey forced the Patriots into a defensive stance for majority of the second half outshooting the Patriots 6-1 over the next 25 minutes as Martell added five saves to keep Cumberlands in front 1-0. In the 73', Cumberlands earned a corner kick but couldn't convert as the Crusaders took possession. Martell made two more saves as the score remained 1-0 in the 84'. William Carey eventually tied the game in the 87' converting off a corner kick as Virginia Mesa scored the goal. The Patriots had a chance in the closing as Bosca notched a shot but it was saved sending the game into overtime.
William Carey notched four shots in the first overtime as Martell made her 17
th and 18
th save of the match to keep the game tied heading into the second overtime. In the second overtime the Patriots defense came up big once again limiting the Crusaders to just one shot and with the match tied the game went to penalty kicks.
The Patriots brought in
Laura Vogt to be the goalie for penalty kicks. Vogt, who made three saves that last time UC was went to penalty kicks in 2021 when they advanced over Benedictine 3-1 on pk's. Vogt stepped in and stopped William Carey's first attempt, while Fontan stepped up to give Cumberlands a 1-0 advantage. Both teams missed their next two tries as Vogt made her second save. After William Carey tied it a 1-1,
Sarah Hammerstone put a well-place shot into the upper 90 to give UC a 2-1 advantage. With pk's tied at 2-2,
Samantha Sokolove stepped up and drilled a shot into the right corner of the net to clinch the championship for the Patriots.
This caps off an incredible season for the Patriots as they captured the Mid-South Conference regular season championship and qualified for the NAIA final site for the fourth straight year.
Rita Aguye Cots,
Carola Fontan, and
Jayden Boelter were named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team for their performance throughout the NAIA Tournament.
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