LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern controlled play for 90 minutes in a 3-0 victory over Trinity College of Florida Tuesday night.

The win was the 100^th in coach Clay Roberts‘ career.

“It’s a great accomplishment achieved by a lot of great players coming through our program,” said Roberts. “Hopefully we continue to build on that.”

Julian Hall got the scoring started in the fourth minute, finishing a pass from Colin Horn that came from the right wing into the near back corner.

Despite outshooting the Tigers 14-0 in the first 45 minutes, the Fire held just a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Just over a minute into the second half, Aitor Granero crossed a pass from the left side onto the foot of AJ Davis who put it into the net for his first goal of the season.

In the 63^rd minute of play, Samuele Nardini finished off a ball that was served in by Horn after a shot by Alex Neal was saved.

“We needed to get some guys minutes tonight that have been just a little bit behind,” said Roberts. “It is a long season, there are a lot of games, so those are valuable minutes for those guys. They controlled the game and produced opportunities.”

SEU finished the game outshooting TCF 32-1 with 14 of the 32 on frame. Additionally, the Fire generated nine corner kicks to one by the Tigers.

The Fire return to play on Saturday at home against Bryan College at 7 p.m.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference revealed its 2021 SWAC Women’s Soccer Predicted Order of Finish on Thursday with Alabama State tabbed to repeat as conference champions. The preseason poll was voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Lady Hornets tallied a league leading eight first place votes. Alabama State has claimed three of the past five SWAC tournament titles while also being crowned regular season champions twice during that same period. 

Spring 2021 SWAC Women’s Soccer Tournament runner-up Grambling State was selected second followed by Alabama A&M (3^rd), Jackson State (4^th), and Prairie View A&M (5^th) to round out the top five preseason selections.

Southern was tabbed to finish in sixth place with Texas Southern (7^th), Alcorn State (8^th), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9^th) and Mississippi Valley State (10^th) picked to finish 6-10 respectively. 

The 2021 SWAC Women’s Soccer regular season is set to begin this week with several league teams in action. The 2021 SWAC Women’s Soccer Tournament will be held Nov. 4-7 on the campus of Prairie View A&M University. 

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Alabama State- 148 (8)
2. Grambling State- 138 (2)
3. Alabama A&M- 118 (3)
4. Jackson State- 114 (2) 
5. Prairie View A&M- 106
6. Southern 89 (1) 
7. Texas Southern- 76
8. Alcorn State- 55 (1)
9. Arkansas-Pine Bluff- 50
10. Mississippi Valley State- 45

*First place votes listed in parenthesis

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Wednesday, United Soccer Coaches released the association’s preseason college rankings, sponsored by Verizon, for men’s and women’s soccer in all divisions of NCAA and junior college competition.

Defending men’s national champions Marshall University and 2020 runners-up Florida State sit atop the polls in NCAA Division I to kickoff the 2021 campaign.

At the NCAA Division II level, University of Charleston is No. 1 on the men’s poll and Flagler College is No. 1 on the women’s poll.

Tufts University claims the top spot on the men’s poll at the NCAA Division III level. On the women’s side, Messiah College is in the No. 1 spot.

Iowa Western Community College and Tyler Junior College sit in the No. 1 spots in the Junior College Division I men’s and women’s polls respectively.

At the Junior College Division II level, Southwestern Community College of Baltimore County-Essex is No. 1 on the men’s poll and Phoenix College is No. 1 on the women’s poll.

In NJCAA Division III, Dallas College-Richland claimed the top spot on the men’s poll, while Dallas College-Brookhaven claims the No. 1 on the women’s poll.

United Soccer Coaches Rankings – Aug. 4, 2021

United Soccer Coaches college rankings, released every Tuesday during the regular season, are an indicator of the week-to-week status of qualified programs and in no way should be used as a guide or indicator of eligibility for championship selection. To be eligible for consideration in United Soccer Coaches college rankings, a school must be a member of the United Soccer Coaches College Services Program.

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LAKELAND, Fla. — Southeastern University Director of Athletics Drew Watson announced the hiring of Caleb Roberts as the new women’s soccer coach.
 
Roberts has spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach for the SEU men’s program under his brother, Clay. During that time, Southeastern has advanced to three NAIA National Championship Opening Rounds and won The Sun Conference Tournament twice.
 
During the 2015 season, the Fire won the conference regular season and tournament titles for the first time in program history, then advanced to the NAIA National Championship Round of 16 after a thrilling overtime win in its first Opening Round appearance in program history.
 
“This is a huge opportunity and I am very excited to take over a nationally ranked program and help continue to develop the culture that is in place, continue the winning tradition, and create young women ready to be leaders amongst their peers,” said Roberts.
 
Additionally, Roberts coached the girls’ program at Plant City High School for four seasons and then took over the boys’ program, guiding the team to its first state championship in 2018. Roberts was named the Florida Dairy Farmers’ Coach of the Year that season as well as the United Soccer Coaches High School Coach of the Year.
 
In nine total seasons as a high school coach, Roberts won six district championships and never had a losing season. In 2013 and 2015, Roberts led the girls’ team to the region final.
 
“Caleb brings the kind of soccer pedigree and stability that will lead to long term success in our program,” said Watson. “More importantly, he is a leader who knows SEU culture and will invest in our student-athletes far beyond their experience on the field. It’s an exciting day for Fire women’s soccer.”
 
Roberts played collegiately at Palm Beach Atlantic where he started 46 games and was an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete. He takes over a program that is coming off winning The Sun Conference regular season and tournament titles and made its fourth consecutive NAIA National Championship Final Site appearance.

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LAKELAND, Fla. – Alan Berrios resigned as the Southeastern University women’s soccer coach this afternoon to pursue another coaching opportunity. 

In his lone season, the Fire went 17-2-1 and won The Sun Conference regular season and tournament titles. Additionally, the Fire hosted and won their fourth-consecutive NAIA National Championship Opening Round which it hosted and advanced to the National Quarterfinals.

A search for the next coach is underway.

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BABSON PARK, Fla. – In what turned out to be the Warriors’ final Spring Game and about two months after what they thought was their final Spring Game, the Webber International University men’s soccer team playing one more time during its 2020-21 season and defeated Ave Maria University 2-1 on the Warrior Grass Field.

The win for Webber (8-9 overall) was its second in three tries this season against Ave Maria (3-13-2).

The Warriors scored just over six minutes in on a goal by David Negrin Ruiz assisted by Rodrigo Flores Iraheta, and then led 2-0 at halftime after Jay Skelcher-Maxwell scored off the assist from Daniel Gamanov in the 31st minute.

Negrin Ruiz led Webber with four shots while Flores Iraheta, Prince James and Dashaun Morris all added three.

Webber outshot Ave Maria 11-3 in the first half and held the Gyrenes to without a shot on goal until the 50th minute. In the end, Alex Marciulonis finished with three saves while defender Eric Lohghorn and the rest of the Warriors’ back four did a great job of controlling the game.

“The boys played well today, and it was a great way to end the season,” spoke Head Coach Neil Cockburn. “Even though we dominated the game, we need to finish out chances when we can so we don’t need to struggle at the end.”

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced its Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Soccer team and preseason poll highlighted by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Beatriz Kretteis (MVSU), Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Demoree-Sanye Nugent (PVAMU), and Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Quinn Josiah (PVAMU). The preseason team, individual awards and poll were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
 
At the conclusion of last season Kretteis, the 2019 SWAC Freshman of the Year, led Mississippi Valley State in scoring with 15 points. She found the back of the net seven times during the season and added an assist. The London, England native also recorded 18 shots on goal, and a game-winning goal during the season.

Prairie View A&M’s Demoree-Sanye Nugent (Victorville, Calif.) was a key figure for a Lady Panthers Soccer team that claimed the 2019 SWAC Tournament title. She logged a total of 979 minutes of action for the season while serving as a significant contributor for PVAMU defensively. 
 
Prairie View A&M’s Quinn Josiah (New Market, Ontario) had a breakout season as she led her team inside the net logging a total of 1353 minutes and tallying 83 saves. Her save percentage of .783 was good for a third place ranking in the conference at the conclusion of the season.   
 
Prairie View A&M (6) led all member institutions with six preseason selections followed by Alabama State (4), Jackson State (3), Alabama A&M (2), Grambling State (2), Texas Southern (2), Alcorn State (1), Mississippi Valley State (1) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1).

In the preseason poll defending SWAC Champion Prairie View A&M was tabbed as the league favorite heading into the season. Grambling State, Jackson State, Alabama State, and Texas Southern were picked 2-5 respectively. Alabama A&M, Southern, Alcorn State, Mississippi Valley State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff were selected 6-10 respectively to round out the preseason rankings. 
 
A complete listing of the Spring 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Team, Predicted Order of Finish and individual award winners can be found below.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Prairie View A&M (122)
2. Grambling State (114)
3. Jackson State (107)
4. Alabama State (85)
5. Texas Southern (78)
6. Alabama A&M (71)
7. Southern (57)
8. Alcorn State (50)
9. Mississippi Valley State (31)
10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (26)

SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year- Beatriz Kretteis, Mississippi Valley State

SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year- Demoree-Sanye Nugent, Prairie View A&M

SWAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year- Quinn Josiah, Prairie View A&M

Preseason All-SWAC Soccer First Team 

 Preseason All-SWAC Soccer Second Team 

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference Board of Directors has approved a 2021 Spring Championship Series for the sports of soccer and volleyball. Men’s and women’s soccer teams will open their seasons the week of February 11th, while volleyball teams will begin play on March 3rd.
 
“The Spring Championship Series will provide the chance for significant competition for our soccer and volleyball student-athletes,” said GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson. “Administrators and coaches across the league have actively worked towards finding opportunities for the student-athletes who were affected by the cancellation of the fall season, and I’m proud of collaborative effort that has created these events.”
 
Men’s and women’s soccer will include pool play and a final bracket. The GSC men’s soccer teams will be split into two groups of five, and the women’s teams will be split into two groups of six. The pools were developed to facilitate efficient competition opportunities for GSC student-athletes and institutions. 
 
Schools will play one pool game per week and each GSC team will advance to a final tournament, which will conclude with a championship game at a site to be determined.
 
MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE | WOMEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE
 
The volleyball format will also include pool play and a final bracket. The GSC volleyball teams will be split into one group of five and one group of six. Similar to soccer, the volleyball pools were developed to facilitate efficient competition opportunities for GSC student-athletes and institutions.
 
Pool play will include a mix of single matches and dual matches. Each GSC team will advance to a final tournament, which will conclude with a championship game at a site to be determined.
 
VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
 
Following NCAA policy, the GSC will collect statistics and results from these spring seasons. Wins and losses will count towards all-time standings and coach records, while teams and student-athletes are eligible for single game records and numbers will count towards career records.
 
Spring Championship Series Championships will not count as official GSC Championships.

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LAKELAND, Fla. – In another instant classic between Southeastern and Keiser, the Fire came away with their second Sun Conference Tournament title with a 4-2 win in a shootout after tying 2-2.

During the shootout, junior goalkeeper Holly Eddins made back to back saves on the second and third Keiser shooters, diving to her left against Emma Holmskov, and diving to her right to guide Alicia Drott’s shot just wide of the post.

“It felt so good, it was just instinct and a lot of prayer to be completely honest,” said Eddins. “This championship means everything. We’ve been working hard and have been preparing for this moment and it feels great.”

Eddins finished the match with nine saves and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“We were excited about the shootout not just because of the quality of players we had on ball, but also having Holly in goal and you just feel that confidence,” said coach Alan Berrios. “She pushed through and is committed and that’s why she’s special.”

After Summer Rusher, Naira Lopez, and Gabriela Labrador made their shots, senior Aisha Solorzano stepped to the spot and drilled the ball into the back of the net to secure the title.

“My mindset was send it to the back of the net and hit it hard,” said Solorzano. “It was a special moment for us. Both sides played a really good game, but it was so nice to win and win at home.”

Keiser got on the scoreboard first with a goal in the 42^nd minute when Drott received a long feed from the midfield and sent it just inside the far post.

The Fire got off to a quick start in the second half, getting a long shot from Makayla Peddycoart in the 49^th minute. In the 58^th, Labrador put a ball into the keeper off a free kick and Jennifer Luna knocked it free and into the back of the net to give SEU the lead.

“This group of girls bought into a system that was based on effort and working hard and never giving up,” said Berrios. “When we went down we talked about bouncing back and bringing the fight.”

Keiser answered with a goal by Holmskov in the 66^th to force extra time.

With the win, the Fire clinch a trip to the NAIA National Tournament which will begin at campus sites April 15^th.

“They love each other, they absolutely love each other,” said Berrios of the team. “They care for one another and they sacrifice for one another.”

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LAKELAND, Fla. – The Southeastern University women’s soccer team capped off a perfect fall portion of their regular season with a dominant 3-0 victory over the Webber International University Warriors on Senior Night. At 11-0 on the season and 9-0 in Sun Conference play, this marks the first time the Fire have gotten unbeaten in Sun Conference play in a season.

The Fire wasted little time getting on the board. Junior center back Gabriela Labrador bent a corner kick into the back of the net in the 5th minute to net her second goal of the season and put the Fire ahead 1-0. 

SEU stifled WIU’s attack in the first half, keeping the ball on the Warrior’s side of the field for the majority of the half and holding Webber International to a lone shot in the first 45 minutes of play, which came in the final seconds of the half.

The Fire doubled their lead in the 39th minute, when freshman forward Anne-Clara Couturier chipped the keeper after a short pass from Mashell Rodriguez at the top of the 18. The goal was Couturier’s eighth of the season.

SEU took a 2-0 lead over WIU heading into the half.

It took the Fire just 43 seconds into the second half to add to their lead, as sophomore forward Naira Lopez beat several Warriors defenders and slotted the ball past the keeper far post to put the Fire ahead 3-0 on her eighth goal of the season.

Junior goalkeeper Holly Eddins made two second-half saves to keep the Warriors off the board. Micaela Owen came in goal for the final 11:38 of the match to help cement the shutout for Southeastern.

The Fire now await their opponent in The Sun Conference Tournament Semifinal, which SEU will host at the SEU Soccer Complex as the top-seeded team in the field. That match is set for Tuesday, Nov. 17 with a game time to be announced.

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