PENSACOLA, Fla. – The 2025 NAIA Women’s Soccer season reached its peak with only one game left on the schedule. That one game, the national championship game between 13th-seeded Cumberlands (Ky.) and 14th-seeded Keiser (Fla.). Both the Patriots and Seahawks have claimed a Red Banner before; the Seahawks are looking for their third, and the Cumberlands are looking for their second. This season is also the first time ever in NAIA Women’s Soccer history that two double-digit seeds were playing for the title. Keiser, claiming their third championship, also marked the first time ever a double-digit seed won the Red Banner.
The score remained locked at 1-1 through the final 15 minutes of regulation and through two overtime periods. The shootout to decide a winner was heart-pounding. Fontan buried the first shot while Keiser’s first shot went wide of the post. The Seahawks then buried their next three shots to celebrate a third National Championship.
After having nothing but rain in the Quarter and Semifinals, the sun decided to make an appearance and turn Red Banner day into a perfect day for the final match of the 2025 season.
It wasn’t long after the opening kick that the first goal was scored. Just a mere four minutes into the match, Nicole Araujo swung in a cross that found Carola Fontan, who redirected it into the back of the net, giving UC a quick 1-0 lead.
The Patriots continued to push deep in their offensive third, earning a handful of free kicks in dangerous areas around the corners of the box. Fontan had a great look in the 22nd minute, floating it to the back post, but the Keiser goalkeeper, Mio Tanaka, was there to punch it away and out of danger.
KU looked to even things up around the 30-minute mark, having a few looks, but none that were dangerous. As the first 45 dwindled down, Cumberlands had a few clean looks on goal from Laura Bosca and Fontan, but once again Tanaka was on point to keep the margin at one.
After the first 45, the Patriots led in all major categories, including shots (8-6), shots on goal (6-2), and corners (2-1). Tanaka was busy having to make five saves compared to UC’s goalkeeper, Morgan White, who only needed to make two. Keiser called upon four subs in the opening 45, with Cumberlands calling on just three.
With the wind at their back, the Seahawks began to push a little harder into the offensive third of the field with having three chances on goal from Lauren Riley and Georgia Little from set pieces, but White cleaned up the missed opportunities after 60 minutes of play.
Keiser knotted the match up in the 72nd minute as Ruby Vernon connected with Blanca Bachi. Bachi went to the top shelf from 14 yards out. The Seahawks looked to score again in the 75th minute, but UC’s defense stood strong, stepping in front of a shot to keep the match at 1-1.
Carola Fontan of Cumberlands was awarded Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the tournament, while Georgia Little of Keiser was honored with Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the tournament. The 2025 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Most Valuable Player honors went to Lauren Riley of the Seahawks.
Keiser claims its third red banner in program history with a 20-3-1 overall record. Cumberlands (Ky.) wraps up a phenomenal season with an overall record of 17-5-3. The game saw a combined 37 shots, with the Seahawks having 25 of them over 110 minutes of play. KU also led in corner kicks, 7-3. White of Cumberlands recorded 14 saves.
The 2025 All-Tournament Team honorees are listed below:
Morgan White, Goalkeeper, Cumberlands (Ky.)
Marely Fonseca, Goalkeeper, John Brown (Ark.)
Marta Carrasco Mesa, Defender, Missouri Valley
Georgia Little, Defender, Keiser (Fla.)
Natalia Supulveda, Defender, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
Samantha Sokolove, Defender, Cumberlands (Ky.)
Carola Fontan, Midfielder, Cumberlands (Ky.)
Judit Ferre, Midfielder, Missouri Valley
Nicole Araujo, Midfielder, Cumberlands (Ky.)
Isabelle Simoneau, Midfielder, Oklahoma Wesleyan
Lauren Riley, Forward, Keiser (Fla.)
Maria Vilhena, Forward, Keiser (Fla.)
Aubrey Winter, Forward, John Brown (Ark.)
Jamie Brandon, Forward, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
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