Championship Berth
Women’s Soccer Battles to the End in Team’s First Sun Belt Title Match
In a close title match with defending champions South Alabama, the Eagles fought hard, but ended their first Sun Belt Championship run after a crushing second-half Jaguars score.
South Alabama built a 10-1 edge in shots in the first half, but both teams could only put one shot on goal.
In the second half, Georgia Southern had a golden opportunity to take the lead just 14 seconds into play, but Vala Kristin Theodorsdottir’s header hit the right post and caromed out.
The Jaguars would take the lead in the 57th minute as Sun Belt Player of the Year Gracie Wilson drove in from the right side and uncorked a shot four yards outside the box that curled inside the near post for the 1-0 lead.
The Eagles pressed for the equalizer in the final 15 minutes. A service from Maddie Klintworth was just inches out in front of Sade Heinrichs in an attempt to redirect it towards goal, and Theodorsdottir had a try from distance in the 83rd minute that was saved.
“We gave it all we had and came up a little bit short today in the final,” Georgia Southern Head Women’s Soccer Coach Chris Adams said. “I believe our team should hold our heads high! This group has battled all year long and done everything that is asked of them. I am proud of their growth and maturity since I took over in December. I want to thank our seniors for all they have contributed to this program, and I want them to know that they made us proud. Hail Southern, and Go Eagles!”
On the road to their first Sun Belt Championship appearance, the Georgia Southern women’s soccer team fought their way through a field of fierce competition.
After a first round bye, the fourth-seeded Eagles faced fifth-seeded Coastal Carolina, a team that beat them 4-1 during the regular season. After Marcela Montoya’s goal 22 seconds into the second half, Georgia Southern kept the Chanticleers scoreless in their 1-0 win.
They faced eighth-seeded University of Louisiana-Monroe in the semifinal. Despite their lower ranking, the Warhawks toppled top-seeded Arkansas State before facing the Eagles. ULM struck early, leading 1-0 until the second half, when Georgia Southern scored twice in four minutes, holding out for the comeback win.
The electrifying championship run put the Eagles at 11-7-4 for the season — the Eagles first winning record since 2014.
Four Eagles were named to the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the match – midfielder Olivia Durham, goalkeeper Michaela English, defender Sade Heinrichs and midfielder Marcela Montoya. Georgia Southern also placed three players on the All-Conference team — graduate student Marcela Montoya and redshirt freshman Elis Nemtsov were first-team honorees, while sophomore Sade Heinrichs was a second-team honoree.