Williamsburg, KY – The top-seed Cumberlands women's soccer team netted a pair of goals in both halves to defeat third-seed and #18 Cumberland 4-1 to capture the 2024 Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship Wednesday night at the UC Soccer Complex. It is the Patriots second tournament title in program history and first since 2020. 

Jayden Boelter, the MSC Player of the Year, netted two goals for her eighth multi-goal game of the season, along with an assist.  Carola Fontan dished out a pair of assists, while Nicole Araujo and Alba Ramirez each scored a goal in the win.  Georgia Martell made two saves, as UC backline of Rita Aguye, Olaya Blanco, Noah Paalman, and Samantha Sokolove limited the Phoenix to just seven shots in the match.

It was a defensive battle right from the open whistle as each team tallied one shot over the first 20 minutes of action.  The Patriots worked for a corner kick in the 24' which was headed wide of the goal by Lucia Gomez.  Cumberlands broke through in the '31 as Olaya Blanco crossed the ball into the box, where it bounced around before Boelter finished putting UC in front 1-0.  Just over a minute later, Fontan won possession off a free kick and sent a cross towards the box. The ball bounced once before Araujo charged and headed it into the net making it 2-0 in favor of the Patriots.  Cumberland (12-5-2) answered with a goal from Gabby Jones to cut the lead to 2-1 with 9:37 remaining in the first half. The Patriots looked to extend their lead as Ramirez put a header on frame, which was saved keeping UC in front 2-1 at the break.

Both teams came out in the second half earning a corner kick in the first five minutes but neither able to turn it into a goal.  The Phoenix looked for the equalizer as Celia Rodriguez headed a shot towards the goal, which was saved by Martell.  The score remained 2-1 until the 71' when Fontan sent a beautiful cross towards the back post, which was headed into the goal by Boelter.  It was Boelter's 26^th goal of the season and made it 3-1.  A few minutes later, Paalman sent a cross into the box, which Boelter headed in a perfect position for Ramirez, who buried the shot into the right side of the goal for her first goal of the season and to give UC a 4-1 lead.  The two teams continued to traded possession as the Patriots ran out the clock for the 4-1 final.

Cumberlands has improved to 17-0 on the season and has now won 22 straight matches, which is the seventh longest win streak in NAIA history.

The Patriots have clinched an automatic berth into the NAIA National Championship, which marks their sixth consecutive appearance.  UC will find out where they will be seeded and play during the NAIA selection show on Saturday, November 16, at 2 p.m.  Fans can watch the selection show here.

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