PULASKI, Tenn. – The 12^th seed University of Tennessee Southern women's soccer opened NAIA Championship play with a second round with a defensive battle with #19 Oklahoma Wesleyan (16-3-3). The matchup also pit two of the top three goal scorers, Tania Mocholi (1^st) and Marina Nawa(3^rd), in the NAIA. #11 UT Southern (15-4-2) took advantage of a turnover deep in the Eagle defensive end. The Firehawks held the narrow one goal lead for the final 75 minutes to punch their ticket to Foley, Ala.

Oklahoma Wesleyan controlled the match for the first six minutes holding a 4-0 shot advantage. The Firehawks allowed the dangerous Mocholi to only one open shot in the first 10 minutes of the match. In the 15^th minute Kamilia Tayebi would pick off an Eagle pass and find Hikaru Uchida on the cross to net the game winner. For the rest of the match great defensive play led by Jessica Glassman and Annah Norman blocked numerous OKWU shots. UT Southern led in shots 8-5 at the break and held a narrow 14-12 count after 90 minutes.

Layken Stockstill (12-2-2) took the clean sheet win corralling four saves.

NEXT UP

The Firehawks will travel to Foley, Ala., to the NAIA National Championship final site. UT Southern will face Benedictine (Kan.) in the third round. Benedictine defeated LSU-Alexandria 3-1 in Thursday's Opening round and defeated pod host Columbia (Mo.) 1-0 in 2ot today. The Cougars and Firehawks will play on November 27^th.

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