Cumberlands Battles to a One-Goal Victory Against Oklahoma Wesleyan in the National Semifinals

PENSACOLA, Fla. – In the first of two NAIA Women’s Soccer National Semifinals on Saturday evening, eighth-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan and 13th-seeded Cumberlands (Ky.) took the pitch under the lights at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex with a spot in the 2025 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship match on the line.

The Eagles and Patriots both entered the match near the top of all NAIA women’s soccer in terms of goals allowed, and the first 10 minutes of action showed that. Kristen Bruhns took the first shot of the game for either team, but it was blocked by the UC defense. In the 12^th minute, OKWU was able to record its second shot of the game, but the Patriots’ goalkeeper, Morgan White, was there to make her first save of the day.

Both teams have very different styles of play; the Eagles look to play from the back line, while the Patriots, at least early on, have been more inclined toward a kick-and-run style. UC recorded their first shot in the 16th minute of the match when Laura Bosca intercepted the pass backwards, but it was ultimately blocked before reaching Alessandra Martinez, the goalkeeper for Oklahoma Wesleyan. Martinez was called upon shortly after, though, in the 17^th minute, when Karla Waibel of the Eagles had a clean look on frame.

As both teams began to truly settle into the match and find their rhythm, they started to find gaps in the defensive lines, and the goalkeepers were being called upon more frequently. The Patriots had two solid free-kick opportunities near the box in the 31st and 32nd minutes. Carola Fontan capitalized on the second opportunity in the 32nd minute with a strike just over the OKWU goalkeeper and to the top shelf for the 1-0 advantage.

After taking the one-goal lead, Cumberlands began to settle in and possess the ball more, pushing it up the line and switching fields when possible, trying to get the Eagles out of their defensive shape.

Cumberlands headed into halftime with a one-goal advantage over the highest remaining seed, No. 8 Oklahoma Wesleyan, with momentum in their favor. The Patriots outshot the Eagles 12-4 and 7-1 in shots on goal after 45 minutes of action.

Oklahoma Wesleyan had two great chances to even the match up off a free kick from Linn Joelsson, but she lifted it just a few inches too high, hitting the crossbar before Elise Lofnertz was in place for the rebound shot on goal that had White of UC collecting her third save of the game in the 49^th minute.

The Eagles had chances in the second half, quickly doubling their shot count from the halftime break at just the 63^rd minute mark. UC continued its attempt to close the door on OKWU as Fontan headed the ball into the bottom corner, but Martinez was there to get a glove on it and push it wide of the post. Even late into the match, OKWU wasn’t short on chances to even the game. Cumberlands was staying organized on the back line to keep the looks on goal, Oklahoma Wesleyan had not been as clean as they would have liked.

Cumberlands improves to 17-4-3 on the season, while Oklahoma Wesleyan closes the book on the 2025 season at 21-2-2. UC doubled OKWU in shots, 22-11, while both teams were near even on corner kicks, 3-2 in favor of the Eagles.

The Patriots head to the national championship match for the second time on Monday, Dec. 8. Their opponent, yet to be determined in the second semifinal match between Keiser (Fla.) and Embry-Riddle (Ariz.).