Pensacola, FL – Morgan White tallied six saves, while
Carola Fontan converted a free kick in the 32' to lead the #13 Cumberlands women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over #8 Oklahoma Wesleyan in the semifinals of the NAIA Tournament Saturday night. With the win, UC advances to the NAIA National Championship Game for the second time in program history.
Fontan netted her second goal at the NAIA Final Site and has now tallied a point in each of the Patriots three final site matches. White notched six saves, including five in the second half to earn back-to-back clean sheets. In the match, UC outshot the Eagles 22-11.
Oklahoma Wesleyan (21-2-2) challenged the Patriots defense early with a pair of shots, including a save from White to keep the match scoreless. Cumberlands picked up the tempo over the next ten minutes recording six shots, including two on frame which were saved. The match remained scoreless until the 32' when the Patriots earned a free kick 30 yards out. Fontan stepped up and laced a shot just under the crossbar giving UC the 1-0 lead. It was the sixth goal of the season for the senior. UC continued to apply the pressure putting a pair of shots on frame as the Patriots took the 1-0 lead into the break.
Oklahoma Wesleyan looked for the equalizer early in the second half but a shot deflected off the crossbar before White made a leaping save to keep Cumberlands in front. The two teams traded possession over the course of the next 15 minutes as Fontan put a shot on frame but couldn't convert. In the 63', Fontan sent a corner kick towards the back post for
Madison Long, who's header just went wide. The Patriots backline of
Noah Paalman,
Samantha Sokolove,
Madison Longmuir, and
Karla Waibel continue to pressure the Eagles and fended off a late surge as White made three saves to secure the 1-0 victory.
Cumberlands advances to the NAIA National Championship on Monday, December 8, at 1 p.m. (ET)/ 12 p.m. (CT) against the winner of #14 Keiser and #15 Embry-Riddle.
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