Orange Beach, Ala. – The #4 University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer team shut down #19 Oregon Tech 4-1 to advance to the NAIA Championship match on Monday.

The Firehawks continued their strategic offensive play when Keito Ido finished an Estelle Badoedana Ekada pass. This would be Ido's 38th goal of the season. Ekada would pad the Firehawk lead with her 12th goal of the season in the 24th minute. In the 39th minute, Gabrielle Forsythe would connect on a corner securing her 4th goal of the year. UTS would deny the Owls a shot in the first half.

Oregon Tech would get on the board when Mehana Ortiz would slip a shot past Gabby Kennedy in the 51st minute. The game would experience an extended delay due to power failure. When play would resume, Yuki Watari would record her 22nd goal of the season from the Ido assist. UTS would outshoot the Owls 16-4 for the match.

"Credit to Oregon Tech who beat four highly ranked teams in a row to make it to the semifinals," said Coach Will Austin. "We had to be at our best today to get the job done, and our players delivered. It was another complete team performance, and I could not be prouder of every single one of them!"

Waiting in the wings for the Firehawks is the #1 Crusaders of William Carey. WCU dispatched a dangerous Central Methodist squad 3-0 in the first game of the day.

NEXT UP

The Firehawks will battle the Crusaders for the "Red Banner" on Monday, December 6th at 1 pm. This will be the 16th meeting, with WCU holding the advantage 11-5.