PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer squad slowly got on the board and dispatched the seventh seed Toppers 8-nil on Thursday. The Firehawks advanced to the Southern States Athletic Conference semifinals held in Montgomery beginning on Wednesday, November 8^th.

#11 UT Southern (14-3-2) blasted a flurry of shots early but couldn't find the net. However, in the final 20 minutes of the half, the Firehawks would score five goals to begin the rout at Grissom Pitch. The fireworks began in the 25^th minute, when Maclani Michael (Mirian Sakai assist) beat the keeper off the near side post. Four minutes later, Nao Katamoto (Marina Nawa) found the net lifting the Firehawks up 2-nil. Eighteen seconds later, Sakai (Nawa) would net another Firehawk goal. Sixteen seconds after, UT Southern added a fourth goal. This time Nawa (Jessica Glassman) added the Firehawk tally. In the 38^th minute, Sharaid Palmeros-Solis (Karla Montiel) scored to pad the lead to 5-nil, and UTS led in shots 17-0 at the half.

In the second half, the Firehawks would add three more scores. Katamoto (Keito Ido) would brace in the 51^st minute. Ravynne Wilson (Glassman) would score in the 53^rd minute. Katamoto (Natalia Richartz) would add a third strike for the hat trick in the 87^th minute. UT Southern's stingy defense would deny Blue Mountain Christian (5-12-1) a shot in the match. The Firehawks led in shots 31-0 and shots on goal 13-0.

Layken Stockstill (11-1-2), Petra Brncova, and Hallie Cherry would share the clean sheet not facing a topper shot.

NEXT UP

The Firehawks will advance to the SSAC Semifinals for a showdown with third seed Life. Life defeated the sixth seed Mobile 5-nil tonight. The semifinal match will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8^th.

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